BABIES cannot complain to their parents or guardians when they get a toothache. When they cry, the reason can be manifold. With some knowledge, however, we can avoid dental diseases that may cause significant discomfort.

Fruit juices contain acids, and some, especially citrus juices, are very high in acid content. This acid does the same job as the acid produced by plaque: it demineralises the enamel. Therefore, avoid giving fruit juice in a bottle, or at the very least, dilute it with water (about 50/50).

Parents have the responsibility of initiating the process of oral health care for their children, which should begin when the child is about four months old. This initial orientation is the most crucial and will be especially effective if sustained over the first ten years of the child’s life.

When the child is very young, before he/she starts to get his/her first teeth, rub his/her gums with gauze or a damp facecloth. This will help your baby understand, from an early age, that just like bathing and hair washing, mouth cleaning is part of the routine. It will also desensitise the gums slightly and may ease the irritation of tooth eruption.

Never dip the pacifier (comforter) in syrup, honey, or other sweet substances because prolonged sweetness in the baby’s mouth is guaranteed to cause tooth decay. Furthermore, it will only encourage a “sweet tooth,” which facilitates future obesity. Additionally, do not add extra sugar to the drinks your baby takes in his/her bottle. The child does not need additional sugar—there is sufficient energy in the everyday foodstuffs they consume.

Children should avoid carbonated (soft) drinks until about three years of age. Never put these drinks in a bottle. Also, try not to let your baby sleep with a bottle. This habit may lead to bottle caries. If a bottle is essential, ensure it contains only water.

If possible, acquire an “orthodontic pacifier” to ensure that, in the event of continued use, the pacifier does not lead to an enormous open space between the front teeth (open bite). Remember, sucking on a pacifier or a finger is normal until about three years of age. It is not advisable to give sweets or chocolates to an infant until he/she is at least 18 months old. He/she does not know he/she is  “missing out” on something nice, and all it does is promote poor dietary habits. Resist relatives’ attempts to give sweets, even if it makes you unpopular with them.

Strange as it may sound, kissing a baby on the lips is one way the bacterium Streptococcus mutans (which causes tooth decay) can be introduced into the mouth. Try to limit non-family members to kissing on the cheek only.

Finally, cleaning your children’s teeth is essential. Many baby teeth must last until the child is almost 12 years old, so the notion of “they fall out anyway” is not acceptable. Baby teeth are critical for maintaining the space necessary for the correct positioning of the permanent teeth that will follow. If your child loses teeth too early, you may face a significant orthodontist bill later that could have been avoided.

Also, when children are young, it can be difficult for a dentist to adequately restore cavities, which may require dental work under general anaesthetic. This should be avoided if possible, simply by maintaining strict oral hygiene measures right from the beginning.