This dentist has some advice for parents of young kids, and to most mums and dads, this will be brand new information.
As parents, we all want to keep our kids healthy and happy, that is literally our Holy Grail. And so we feed them healthy food and make sure they sleep enough and avoid sugary treats too often, and we also try give them healthy habits that will protect them in the long run, such as being physically active and brushing their teeth and using dental floss.
However, now a dentist has revealed the big mistake most parents make when it comes to kids and dental health, and most of us, I bet, would not have had a clue that this was even something we were meant to be avoiding.
In a post shared to Instagram, the pediatric dentist, who just goes by the name Dr. Ashley on social media, shares the following information about kids and oral health, and in particular, the things us parents do that compromises children’s dental health starting from a very young age.
In text overlaying a post on Instagram, Dr Ashley writes:
‘When I tell parents that sharing a spoon with their baby is passing cavity-causing bacteria, this is what I mean.’
Captioning her post, the pediatric dentist writes:
‘And before you spiral… this is not about being a bad parent. It’s about something most parents were never told.’
She goes on to explain what she means:
‘Honestly, most of us grew up sharing spoons, blowing on food to cool it down, or taking a bite first to check the temperature without thinking twice.’
What dentist tells parents about keeping kids’ mouths healthy
However, the pediatric dentist reveals, this is not the best idea for our kids’ oral health.
‘The bacteria most commonly associated with cavities, Streptococcus mutans, can be passed through saliva.’
That, she reveals, means sharing a spoon, tasting your baby’s food with the same utensil, blowing on it to cool it down, or other saliva-sharing habits can transfer that bacteria into your baby’s mouth.
‘The part that surprises most parents is this: the earlier thos’e cavity-causing bacteria colonise a child’s mouth, the higher their risk of developing cavities later in life.
And that process, the pediatric dentist reveals, can start before the first tooth even comes in.
‘This isn’t about never kissing your baby or making parents feel guilty. It’s about knowing that a few small habits can make a meaningful difference over time.’
Dr Ashley says a few small feeding tweaks can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your kids’ mouth healthy.
‘Using a separate spoon to taste food, avoiding shared utensils when you can, taking care of your own oral health, and cleaning your baby’s gums before that first tooth erupts are all simple ways to help give their smile the healthiest start possible.’
