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In the past, we’ve discussed the
impact that pregnancy has on a woman’s dental health.
(Click here for the story.) But Dr. Steve
says the dental health of your child is just as important, both before and after
your baby is born.
Prenatal
care
The first item to address is fluoride. You had your fluoride treatments as a
child. Fluoride strengthens teeth by helping to form a harder enamel that is
less vulnerable to damage from plaque acids.
So would your unborn
child benefit from fluoride? The use of fluoride supplements during pregnancy is
a controversial issue. Fluoride is obtained from water and other beverages,
foods, prescription drops and tablets, and other sources. A major function of
fluoride taken systemically (throughout the body) is the strengthening of
developing teeth from infancy to adolescence.
Fluoride intake by a pregnant
mother may have a positive effect on the unborn child, Dr. Steve says.
“We tell expectant mothers
that taking fluoride tablets is beneficial,” he says, “but that they should
discuss it with their obstetrician before making a decision.”
Several recent studies
support the use of prenatal fluoride supplements. In the first study, pregnant
women in their second and third trimester would take a daily 2.2-mg. tablet of
sodium fluoride along with fluoridated water. The results demonstrated that 97%
of the offspring of these women had absolutely no cavities for the first ten
years of their lives. These children also had no medical of dental side effects
from the prenatal fluoride treatment.
Another study contained 1200
pregnant women; half were given a fluoride supplement and the other half were
not. A five-year follow-up of the offspring revealed that the fluoride group had
only about half as many cavities as the non-fluoride group, and 96% had no
cavities at all.
The use of fluoride in the
form of supplements, in toothpaste, mouthwash, and in drinking water has been
clearly established for both children and adults. Recent studies concerning the
use of fluoride during pregnancy are encouraging, and may provide a safe and
cost-effective way of reducing cavities in children.
As always, Dr. Steve
recommends you talk to your gynecologist about the use of fluoride supplements
during your second and third trimester of pregnancy.
Caring for baby teeth
Dr. Steve says that many parents ask, “Why should we worry about cavities in
baby teeth when these teeth will be replaced by permanent teeth later?”
The answer is that baby teeth serve important functions.
Neglecting baby teeth can cause severe problems. That’s why it is
important to make sure that even these "temporary" baby teeth remain healthy and
cavity free.
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Healthy baby teeth are crucial in helping the baby
learn how to speak properly.
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Healthy and nice looking teeth are important in
building self-confidence and self-esteem. This is especially important at such
an early age. Unfortunately, small children can be cruel to one another, quick
to tease peers about ugly looking or decayed teeth. Furthermore, bad breath
resulting from poor dental hygiene can make your child an outcast among peers.
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Baby teeth serve as spacers, which maintain the
proper spacing and alignment of the teeth so that permanent teeth have enough
room to come in.
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Baby teeth are important in proper feeding and
nutrition. A recent study has illustrated a potential link between the number
of cavities a child has and the probability of the child being underweight.
It is crucial to note that the proper care of baby teeth is not
only important now but for the future as well.
You see, early dental care gets a child accustomed to a clean
cavity free mouth. Because children become accustomed to clean teeth they will
continue with the proper habits to ensure this clean feeling in the future as
well.
Poor dental care can easily lead to childhood periodontal
disease. This is a condition in which bacteria invade the gums and ligaments
supporting the teeth. Unchecked, periodontal disease can cause teeth to fall out
and bone to erode, creating major problems for permanent teeth if and when they
do come in.
And Dr. Steve says to remember to wipe a baby's mouth with a
clean gauze pad or washcloth to remove plaque. If your child is old enough get
them in the habit of brushing their own teeth,
but always remember to brush their teeth after they are finished brushing.
Finally make sure your child sees a dentist regularly starting by
the age of two.
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