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Healthy Teeth in Down Syndrome

Believe it or not, the development of healthy teeth in Down Syndrome begins before your baby is even born! What you eat when you are pregnant is important. Eating right will help you and your growing baby stay healthy. Follow your doctor's advice for eating the right foods and taking vitamins.

After your baby is born, meticulous oral hygiene and fluoride will also help keep your baby’s teeth healthy. You should start taking care of your baby’s teeth as soon as they start coming in.

Protect Your Baby's Teeth with Fluoride

Fluoride protects teeth from tooth decay and helps heal early decay. Fluoride is in the drinking water of some towns and cities. Ask your dentist or doctor if your water has fluoride in it. If it doesn't, talk to your dentist or doctor about giving you a prescription for fluoride drops for your baby

Check and Clean Your Baby's Teeth

Healthy teeth should be all one color. If you see spots or stains on the teeth, take your baby to your dentist. Clean your baby's teethAs soon as teeth come in start cleaning them with a soft cloth or a baby toothbrush.Clean the teeth at least once a day. It's best to clean them right before bedtime.At about age 2, most of your child's teeth will be in. This is a good time to start brushing them with a small drop of fluoride toothpaste. As your child gets older let him use his own toothbrush -- but you will still need to put the toothpaste on the toothbrush as well as help with the brushing.Young children cannot get their teeth clean enough by themselves. Try brushing your child’s teeth first and then letting your her finish.

Tooth Brushing Tips

Feed Your Baby Healthy Foods

Choose foods that do not have a lot of sugar in them. Give your child fruits and vegetables instead of candy and cookies. Near her first birthday, you should teach your child to drink from a cup instead of a bottle.

Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle at night or at nap time. (If you put your baby to bed with a bottle, fill it only with water.)Milk, formula, juices, and other sweet drinks such as soda all have sugar in them. Sucking on a bottle filled with liquids that have sugar in them can cause tooth decay. Decayed teeth can cause pain and can cost a lot to fill.During the day don’t give your baby a bottle filled with a sweet drink to tote around with her and use as a pacifier.If your baby uses a pacifier, do not dip it in anything sweet like sugar or honey.

Take Your Child to the Dentist

Dental visits should begin sometime in the first year to optimize the development of healthy teeth in Down Syndrome. Try to find a dentist who has plenty of experience treating children with special needs.

References:

NIH Publication No. 03-5032

National Institute ofDental and Craniofacial ResearchNational Institutes of Health

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