Patient's question:
My child has grown about ten or twelve teeth since birth, but the upper teeth are quite sparse and also very small. I don't know if this is normal. The doctor said it's nothing, but I'm a bit worried. What should I do? How to deal with sparse upper teeth in infants.Doctor's answer:
Brush your teeth. Once the baby teeth erupt, bacteria begin to gather in the mouth, where they can metabolize sugar and produce acid. As soon as the first baby tooth erupts, it is exposed to a sugary food environment. Initially, the teeth can be brushed with two pieces of gauze or a clean towel. After the baby gets used to daily teeth cleaning, you can start using a small amount of toothpaste, but it is not necessary to use toothpaste.2. Avoid falling asleep with a bottle. Frequent sugar intake and the prolonged presence of sugary foods in the mouth are the main factors contributing to tooth decay. To prevent this decay, do not let the child fall asleep with a bottle. Sugary drinks and milk contain sugar that is harmful to erupting teeth, and severe cases of baby bottle tooth decay are often caused by this. Bottles should only be used as feeding tools and should not be used as pacifiers.
3. Clean the mouth before bedtime. If the child does not brush their teeth after eating candy or sweet snacks before bed, these food remnants will create a static, bacteria-friendly acidic environment in the mouth, thereby reducing the risk of tooth decay.