An aunt is laboriously brushing her two-year-old grandson, Xiaobao. This scene attracted the attention of the surrounding neighbors. Seeing this, Grandma Li came over distressedly, patted Aunt Wang's arm, and said, "The child is still so young, his teeth are a little yellow, and they are not permanent teeth, they will have to be replaced sooner or later, why let him suffer this crime?"
After hearing this, Aunt Wang frowned and retorted: "You may not know that the health of baby teeth directly affects the development of permanent teeth, and now the caries rate of children is so high, we can't take it lightly." ”
01. Proper feeding lays the foundation for oral health
Breastfeeding priority: Known as the "golden liquid at the beginning of life", breast milk is rich in immunoactive substances, antibodies, probiotics and a variety of nutrients, which can effectively inhibit the growth of harmful oral flora and reduce the risk of caries in infants and young children.
Children who are exclusively breastfed have a healthier oral environment and their teeth are more likely to be kept clean than formula and mixed feeding. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, with an extension to two years of age or beyond, where possible.
Adjust the frequency of feeding: As your baby grows, you should gradually reduce the frequency of feedings after 1 year of age, especially at night. Frequent night feeds can not only lead to over-dependence and affect your child's ability to fall asleep on their own.
What's more, sleeping with your nipple in your mouth for a long time will make your teeth soak in milk for a long time, increasing the likelihood of caries. Gradually reducing night milk until complete withdrawal can help maintain a clean mouth and reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Timely transition to cup feeding: Long-term use of feeding bottles is not only prone to "bottle caries", that is, demineralization and decay of the tooth surface due to long-term exposure to sugary liquids, but also may affect the normal development of children's chewing function.
It is recommended to gradually reduce the use of bottles after the child reaches 1 year of age, especially when feeding sugary liquids, and switch to cups or spoons. This not only improves your child's oral coordination and swallowing skills, but also reduces the amount of time your teeth are in direct contact with sugar, reducing the risk of caries.
Master the correct feeding posture: Incorrect feeding posture may cause the child's jaw to stretch forward or retract, forming a "ground cover" or "small chin", which affects the maxillofacial aesthetics and chewing function.
The correct feeding position is to lift the child diagonally upwards so that his body is at an angle of about 45 degrees to the horizontal plane, and the head is slightly higher than the stomach, so as to ensure that the milk flows smoothly into the stomach and avoid reflux and choking.
When using bottle feeding, it is necessary to choose a nipple that matches the child's age, and the hole size is moderate, which can not only allow the milk to flow out naturally, but also allow the baby to fully exercise the sucking power and promote the normal development of the musculoskeletal around the mouth.
02. Correct bad habits and prevent dentition deformity
Quitting pacifiers at the right time: Pacifiers can help relieve your baby's anxiety and promote oral muscle movement at a certain stage, but over-reliance or prolonged use may have a negative impact on oral development.
Studies have shown that long-term use of pacifiers may lead to misaligned teeth, disordered relationship between the upper and lower jaws, and even affect speech pronunciation. It is recommended to gradually reduce the use of pacifiers in a planned way when the child is 1~2 years old, and completely withdraw after the age of two to avoid long-term damage to the development of the dentition and jaw.
Correcting finger sucking and biting habits: Finger sucking and biting behaviors in infancy and early childhood are mostly normal physiological needs and help relieve teething discomfort, but if they are not corrected until preschool age, they may have adverse effects on teeth and maxillofacial morphology, such as tooth misalignment, opening and closing, and protruding (buckteeth).
Parents should pay close attention to their children's behavior and habits, give gentle guidance in a timely manner, and divert their attention by providing rich toys and games to help children gradually get rid of bad oral habits.
Avoid mouth breathing: Long-term mouth breathing may not only lead to abnormal dental arch morphology and protruding upper anterior teeth, but also may cause respiratory problems and affect sleep quality.
For diseases that cause mouth breathing, such as nasal congestion and adenoid hypertrophy, medical attention should be sought promptly. Parents can also gradually correct their mouth breathing habits by observing their children's sleeping posture and reminding them to close their mouths to breathe.
Regular oral examination and early correction: For children who have developed or may be at risk of dentition deformity, regular oral examination should be performed for early detection and early intervention.
If you find that the teeth are crowded, crossbited, deviated jaw, etc., you should consult a professional dentist in time and formulate an early orthodontic treatment plan according to the specific situation, such as using functional appliances and gap maintainers, to prevent the problem from aggravating.
For infants and toddlers who are in the critical period of growth and development, healthy teeth are not only the basis for chewing food and assisting pronunciation, but also a valuable asset for them to smile confidently and show their innocent charm.
Every parent should attach great importance to the baby's oral health, start from daily life, correct bad habits, adopt scientific feeding methods, and create a strong and white "first pair of teeth in life" for children.
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