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5 reasons to stop night-time feeding now!

Written by Debjani Arora | Updated : March 20, 2015 6:01 PM IST

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Reduce Night Time Feeds

Nursing carries are caused due to breast feeding or bottle feeding during bedtime. ‘If your baby needs the comfort of suckling, try giving him a bottle of water and not a feed before sleep. If milk is inevitable, do not sweeten it while giving the bottle. After a breast feed burp your baby to avoid pooling in the mouth,’ advises Dr Farhin Katge, pediatric dentist, Mumbai. Try and wean off night-time feeds with milk by 18 months to prevent caries.

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Keep The Mouth Clean

Once your baby has her whites in place take care to clean them regularly. ‘Use a wet soft cloth or a finger tooth brush to clean your baby's oral cavity, gums and milk teeth. Beyond 18 months encourage your baby to use a brush with a teeny-weeny amount of toothpaste. Remember to pick non-fluoride toothpaste,’ says Dr Katge.

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Be Vigilant With Medications

All those sweetened syrups you give your child when sick contribute to tooth decay as well. Do not forget to make your baby take sips of water after medication and clean the mouth and teeth thoroughly.

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Dental Troubles Can Appear Early In Babies

It’s a great sight to see your baby break into a smile with his little pearly whites. As you gape at your smiling baby you probably don’t give much of a thought to your baby’s oral care. But dental troubles that can take refuge in his little mouth even as early as six months or one year. Yes they don’t spare babies on a diet of milk – breast milk or formula. One of the most common dental problems that can trouble your baby in his initial months of life is - nursing caries. Nursing caries are dental caries or cavities that erode the milk tooth of babies and toddlers who are nursed with milk during bedtime. Know how to counter this tooth trouble wisely. Also Read - Gold, Silver Rate Today LIVE: Gold price volatility may trigger financial anxiety - Will rates drop today? Check prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Surat