When it comes to childcare, a focal part of it is breastfeeding. Usually, the benefits of breastfeeding extend further than you know, and it actually can help with a baby’s oral health. There is a reason why breastfeeding is encouraged, and here we will talk about the benefits for a baby, including in the realm of oral health.

The first is let’s highlight the benefits of breastfeeding especially in the first six months. It creates a less likelihood of infection in the ear, as well as reducing the obesity rate of a child. It also can help with intelligence and even digestion. They aren’t just for the baby either, but for the mom, since it reduces the odds of cancer, shrinks the uterus which helps after you have a baby, and it also creates a better bonding.

But, let's talk about how breastfeeding extends to the health of the baby in terms of oral care too.

The first is that it actually promotes better digestion for the child, since breast milk is more digestible than a cow’s milk, so it makes digestion better and nutrients usable. It contains nutrients that help pass through the goo that a baby has. Healthy nutrition isn’t just good for a body, but also good for the teeth as well.

Tooth alignment is actually another huge part of it. According to a study in 2017 that was published by the ADA, breastfed babies were less likely to have issues with their teeth being aligned and while they may still need orthodontics, I some cases this can prevent misaligned teeth from happening as a result.

Then there is tooth decay. If a baby sucks on juice, milk, or even formula, it actually is not good for them. That’s because they are full of sugar, and often, it leads to problems over their entire lifetime. Because those who are breastfed aren’t exposed to baby bottles as much, they typically don’t get tooth decay, especially in the front teeth.

But, don’t think that they won’t get tooth decay at all. It's still possible because let’s face it if you don’t have a good diet and take care of them for the long run, ti will create issues, but as soon as they erupt, you as a person should brush them. You should either use a cool washcloth in order to wipe them, or even using just a tiny little toothbrush with a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste. For a child, it doesn’t have to be a lot.

Some parents also do wash the gums after they feed the baby with a washcloth. When you do this, you should always make sure that you’re not too hard on them, and instead take it nice and slow when it comes to taking care of the teeth. It is also advisable that your child also sees the dentist at some point between when the teeth first erupt, and their first birthday. That’s because, the dentist will help them as needed, and it can make a major difference in the future and life that you have for your child, and I will help if you need to take care of anything sooner.

If you’re wondering whether it’s time for you to have the dentist see your child, the best thing to do is to call them. Usually, dentists will give your child a good prognosis on their current oral health, as long as they're able to see it, and from there, they can give you some great treatment options for the child if it’s needed, and also forewarn a child on anything that might come about as a result of this. Its great to know, and by knowing all of this, you as a parent can make a difference in the future of your child’s life.