This three-part article series explains some very important information about dental health care for children, which faces some unique challenges many parents are completely unaware of.

Welcome to the final installment of this three-part article series on dental healthcare for babies and young children. Previously, in Part 2, a panel of highly qualified Rancho Palos Verdes cosmetic dentists explained the following important items with regards to routine preventative care for your children and dealing with teething problems:

• Maintaining the proper oral health and hygiene of your child’s milk teeth will ensure that they develop healthy adult teeth.

• Teething problems can be dealt with by gently massaging your baby’s gums with a cool spoon, a soft moist cloth or even with a clean finger.

• Should your child experience greater than usual pain during teething, it’s recommended that you contact your dentist or even doctor for advice.

We will now conclude this three-part series with two seemingly innocent habits that can lead to major dental problems: thumb sucking and baby bottle decay.

Thumb Sucking: When It’s Okay And When It Isn’t

“Thumb sucking or sucking on a pacifier is a totally natural behavior for babies and young children,” says a Rancho Palos Verdes dentist. “It’s soothing for them and so it helps them to feel comfortable, happy and safe. It can even lull them to sleep, which is probably a relief to most parents! However, beyond a certain age, thumb sucking or sucking on any other finger or pacifier can lead to the development of orthodontic problems that may end up requiring complex and costly procedures to fix.”

The action of sucking applies a slight pressure – but a pressure nonetheless – to the roof of the mouth and the teeth, which can affect the natural development and shaping of the oral cavity. It can also affect the healthy alignment of the teeth, which can cause all sorts of problems in childhood. Vigorous thumb suckers will do more damage to their oral health than those who suck passively, so it’s important to assess your child’s behavior to determine when the appropriate time will be to wean them off this habit.

If your child continues to thumb suck beyond the age of four years, or if you have noticed certain changes in the alignment of their teeth or in the shape of their mouths, you should consult with your dentist immediately.

How Can I Prevent My Child Thumb Sucking?

• Address the cause of the habit, which is often a need for comfort and attention. Make them feel safe, protected and loved.

• Positive reinforcement: comment on and praise your tot for not sucking on their thumbs or on a pacifier: “Look at you going for so long without your pacifier! You’re such a big boy now!”

• Ask your dentist to explain to your child why thumb sucking is bad for them after a certain age and what could happen if they don’t try to stop.

• In extreme cases, you could paint his or her nails with a bitter medication or apply this to the sucking appliance. You could even wrap your tot’s hand in a sock or glove. Don’t be afraid to get creative!

Baby Bottle Decay

Getting your baby used to going to bed with a bottle of milk or juice could prove to be disastrous for their growing dentition. While it may soothe them to sleep, having all that sugar and acid in their mouth overnight could lead to the early decay of their teeth and especially their front teeth, according to concerned Rancho Palos Verdes family dentists.

“Even though your child will only have his or her milk teeth for a short while, they are still just as vulnerable to decay and cavities as permanent teeth. Problematic milk teeth can lead to the development of problematic adult teeth, so it’s important to avoid getting your baby used to this bad habit.”

How Can I Prevent Baby Bottle Decay?

Don’t leave your child with bottles of milk and juice for extended periods of time. Feeding should be done in a single sitting, after which you gently clean their teeth. If your baby is thirsty or wants something to suck on at night, give him or her a bottle with water in it. Additionally, you should try not to expose your child to your own saliva because you will introduce bacteria into their system that they didn’t have before, so avoid sharing spoons with them.