Even though very young children generally have a limited number of teeth, there are some dental concerns that primarily affect babies and toddlers. Here are two of them:

Sucking the Thumb

Your little one may have been sucking his or her thumb since before he or she was born. However, this seemingly harmless practice can become problematic if it continues during the period in which your child's teeth are presenting. 

As your child sucks his or her thumb, pressure is placed on the palate. This pressure can cause teeth to become misaligned over time. In addition, the sucking may affect the child's bite, causing the teeth of the top and bottom palate not to meet as they should. Often, these issues can be treated using orthodontic devices, but they may be avoided altogether if thumb sucking is stopped early enough. Here are a few ways to help encourage your child not to suck his or her thumb:

• Give your little one other things to keep his or her thumbs busy. If your child's hands are occupied with toys or other objects, he or she is less likely to suck his or her thumb.
• A child may suck his or her thumb even while sleeping. If this is the case with your child, you may be able to remove the thumb from your child's mouth during episodes of rest without your little one even knowing that you are doing so.
• Praise your child for any progress. Instead of shaming or scolding your little one you can reward him or her for refraining from the undesirable activity.

 Bottle Feeding, Especially During Rest 

Feeding your child from a bottle doesn't usually cause many problems before your little one's teeth start to erupt. However, it's never a good practice to use a bottle filled with milk or juice as a soothing or comforting tool.  

Some parents offer their child a warm bottle of milk to help lull him or her to sleep. However, the use of milk, juice or other sugary drinks during periods of rest can result in baby bottles mouth, which is a form of severe dental decay. 

The liquid tends to pool in the mouth of the child as he or she rests. In addition, as a child sleeps, the swallowing reflex is less active and saliva production is slowed. The teeth are bathed in the sugar solution until the child wakes or the bottle falls from his or her mouth. 

To help prevent issues with bottle-related decay, try the following: 

• Use an alternative soothing method, such as rocking your baby or offering him or her a pacifier.
• Exchange juice or milk for water. Water will not decay the teeth if a child falls asleep.

To learn more about issues that can affect your baby's dental health, consult with someone who specializes in dentistry for children in your area.

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