Since baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent ones, baby teeth don’t really matter, right? Wrong!! That is a misconception, because taking care of the first set of teeth is important. Children should learn proper dental hygiene from the start, so that those good habits will last a lifetime. The same threats apply to both baby teeth and adult teeth, so you should learn how to prevent problems early. Also, unhealthy teeth in childhood can cause low self esteem, infections, pain, and nutrition and growth issues.

What are some dangers to your child’s teeth? Sometimes things that you haven’t even considered will put your child’s oral health at risk. Here are some hidden dangers to children’s teeth:

• Eating or drinking after brushing teeth at bedtime
• Sleeping with a bottle or sippy cup of juice or milk
• Drinking too much fruit juice during the day
• Eating unhealthy snacks between meals, such as sugary foods, chewy items, hard candy, and chips
• Eating sticky snacks like candies, fruit snacks, and raisins
• Getting lots of extra sugar from sugary cereals, chocolate milk, or unhealthy snacks
• Not getting enough fluoride, commonly a problem when your child only drinks bottled water instead of fluoridated tap water

How can you avoid these dangers? Either brush or help brush your child’s teeth, and don’t allow any more eating or drinking after bedtime brushing. Encourage healthy snacking and avoid items known to increase tooth risks. Ask your dentist about whether your child is a candidate for fluoride supplements. Finally, develop a routine of taking your child to the dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning.

Dentist in Toronto for kids.