It’s never too early to invest in your child’s dental health. Your child’s teeth have been in development, along with every other part of their body, from conception onward. By taking good care of your baby’s teeth, you set them up for good oral health and habits for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, there are a lot of falsehoods regarding how to best care for a baby’s teeth. Here are a few of the worst offenders, as heard by every Children’s dentist in Charleston.
There’s No Difference Between Tap and Bottled Water
There is actually one big difference between tap and bottled water. Tap water is loaded with fluoride, a mineral that strengthens teeth and keeps them healthy and looking their best. Every Children’s dentist in Charleston will recommend plenty of fluoride-rich tap water to help your baby’s teeth develop well.
Dental Checkups Aren’t Necessary for Your Baby
As stated earlier, dental care starts from early on in your child’s life. Waiting until your child has a full mouth of teeth does their dental health no favors. The average Children’s dentist in Charleston will recommend you start bringing your child into the office once they have hit one year of age. However, you should ideally bring them in once they begin to teethe.
Nightly Bottles Don’t Harm Teeth
Many parents give their babies a fresh bottle right as they’re put down for the night. While there may be some advantages to this, such as helping your child soothe themselves to sleep, there’s one major disadvantage to their teeth. Milk is loaded with sugar that can settle on your child’s gums and what few teeth they have, creating cavities and other dental issues right from the beginning. If you must give your baby a bottle as you’re putting them to sleep, give them water rather than milk. This limits their sugar consumption and protects their developing teeth.
If you’re looking for an expert Children’s dentist in Charleston, there are many. Contact Charleston Smiles at 843-573-0733 or visiting their website.
