Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Parents may not realize, but giving an infant a sugary drink at nap or nighttime is harmful because, during sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to linger on the child’s teeth for an extended period of time. This can lead to baby bottle tooth decay and our staff at Garrison Family Dentistry would like you to know the dangers of this condition. Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars. This is why it’s important to clean your infant’s gums with a warm washcloth after each feeding.

Baby teeth are placeholders for permanent teeth, so it is important to keep their gums healthy from birth. If teeth are infected or lost too early due to baby bottle tooth decay, your child may develop poor eating habits, speech problems, crooked teeth, and perhaps damaged adult teeth. It is important to not only begin brushing your child’s teeth (without toothpaste) when his or her first tooth comes in, you should also schedule regular dental visits by your child’s first birthday.

If you have questions about your child’s dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.garrisondentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Garrison Family Dentistry here in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.

Getting Kids Motivated to Brush and Floss

Baby teeth are important because they hold the place for the future adult teeth. While kids may not be jumping at the chance to brush and floss, it is still so important that the job gets done. Here at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we want to make sure that all of our littlest patients are doing a good job taking care of their teeth at home. Take some tips for motivating your child into a good dental hygiene routine.

Kids are often easily motivated by rewards. While brushing and flossing should be something they know they have to do for their health, rewards are a good way to get them into a habit. Try creating a chart that collects stars. Every day that they brush their teeth twice and floss once, they get a star. After so many days or weeks of straight stars, they get a reward. The reward can be simple and healthy, like taking them on a bike ride or letting them play outside a little longer.

Another great way to get kids motivated is to ensure they know that they are being healthy. Starting healthy habits at a young age will likely carry onto adulthood. Try showing them videos about why dental health is important. Cartoons and funny videos will get their attention and be educational.

Kids are also inclined to imitate their parents. Brush your teeth alongside them so they can follow your techniques and so you can make sure they do a good job.

Dental health starts at a young age. To schedule your family’s appointments with Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, call our office at (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com.