Infant oral health has an enormous effect on their overall well-being, nutrition, pain tolerance and self-esteem – this is why developing healthy habits early and making regular dental appointments is vital.

Medically compromised infants often take long-term medication that causes side effects like xerostomia or altered salivary flow and buffering capacity, both of which could contribute to caries-promoting conditions.

1. Poor Oral Hygiene

Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria, so proper oral hygiene is important in controlling these flora. Unchecked bacteria can lead to gum disease and tooth decay; some species even enter the bloodstream and lead to systemic diseases like heart disease or diabetes.

Oral health problems can have detrimental consequences for both academic performance and social relationships in children. Studies have shown that children with poor dental hygiene are more likely to miss school days and receive lower grades than their counterparts who possess healthy teeth.

Poor oral hygiene during pregnancy has been linked to preeclampsia and low birth weight babies, making it all the more imperative that pregnant women maintain good oral health during gestation. Although OB/GYNs often suggest taking prenatal vitamins and avoiding foods high in sugar as part of prenatal care plans, many women neglect oral health considerations altogether – something which could have life-changing ramifications for both mother and child.

2. Sucking Habits

Sucking is an instinctive behavior for infants and they often suck on their fingers, thumbs or objects like pacifiers and blankets for comfort. These non-nutritive sucking habits (NNSH) typically diminish over time as children get older; however, prolonged use may result in long-term dental, skeletal or airway issues.

Teaching Hospital Batticaloa conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to analyze 82 infants and their clinical records to investigate their digit sucking habits and remedies employed by parents for controlling them. Demographic information included age, sex, mother’s occupation and reason for clinic attendance were obtained along with duration and sidedness analyses as well as remedies taken by them against this habit.

NNSH are a worldwide phenomenon and contribute to malocclusions in infants. Treatment options may include advice, removal of an object from use, behavioral techniques such as applying an unpleasant taste on individual fingers or any combination thereof.

3. Medication

Infant oral health is crucial to their future happiness and nutrition. Infants may receive medications which have an effect on both aspects of their oral wellbeing.

Enteral bioavailability is affected by several factors, including gastric acidity and emptying rates, gastrointestinal secretions, transport mechanisms, first-pass metabolism rates and bacterial flora; premature infants tend to regurgitate medication administered orally intermittently thus necessitating repeat dosing.

Infants should be taught to swallow tablets and capsules with their lips closed instead of their teeth, and encouraged to take medication with a favorite drink such as milk or juice. This can reduce doses that go untaken due to fear or poor swallowing and overall healthcare costs by decreasing emergency room visits, hospital admissions, physician office visits and physician office visits. Furthermore, routine dental checkups should be established and maintained within all families for regular monitoring of infant tooth eruption as well as professional guidance about specific oral health needs.

4. Diet

Diet is an integral component of healthy living during infancy. A balanced diet that provides essential vitamins and nutrients is important in order to promote optimal development and growth.

Diet plays an essential role in the etiology of many diseases, and infants’ consumption of high-quality food plays an essential part. Dietary habits formed early can influence adult morbidities and contribute to disease occurrence (Elenberg & Shoul, 2014).

First teeth to emerge are often molars, which play an integral part in chewing function. Therefore, it’s essential that infants establish good oral hygiene practices as soon as their first tooth erupts – such as daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste starting upon first eruption – which will reduce risks such as tooth decay and gum disease, while helping prevent speech issues caused by missing or damaged teeth. Finally, eating healthily balanced meals contributes to long-term wellness.