Even when a baby’s teeth have not yet emerged it is important that their oral health is assessed by a dentist, one expert has claimed.
Many parents are unaware of the importance of having their children’s teeth examined by the age of one, the South Minnesota Independent reports.
Spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Dr Teresa Fong explained that preventing bad habits is essential and parents often do not realise the high sugar content in some food and drinks.
She said: “Many people don’t know where to start”, adding that a common myth is that “you don’t need to take your child to the dentist until their baby teeth have grown in.”
Ms Fong recommended avoiding putting children to bed with a bottle as the acid contained in the juice or milk can damage the baby’s teeth and cause decay.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California found that youngsters are more likely to suffer from poor oral hygiene if their mothers do.