Here’s another reason to take your pre-natal vitamins. Moms who get enough vitamin D while pregnant have babies with healthier teeth, according to Canadian researchers.

Moms who were deficient in vitamin D while pregnant had children who had significantly more tooth problems, such as weak tooth enamel and tooth decay.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, important for healthy teeth and bones.

There’s vitamin D in prenatal vitamins, and in vitamin D-fortified milk, soy milk, and breakfast cereal. Vitamin D is also found naturally in fatty fish like salmon, catfish and tuna, and in eggs.

The sun also makes vitamin D: going out in the sun without sunscreen for a couple of minutes a day produces vitamin D in the skin. The sun helps you make vitamin D year round in the southern US, but only in the summer in the northern states. So northern moms like me definitely need vitamin D supplements, especially so in the winter.

There’s somewhat of a conflict between what we’ve all been told to do – wear a hat, wear sunscreen, wear sunglasses in the sun. I admit I do get lazy about sunscreen when I’m only out in the sun for a couple of minutes, so I guess I am making plenty of vitamin D, even though my dermatologist would tell me off.

So most dermatologists recommend covering up in the sun, and wearing sunscreen, and getting your vitamin D from food and supplements.

And once baby is born, breastfeeding moms should keep up their vitamin D supplements. Your baby’s pediatrician may recommend vitamin D supplements for exclusively breastfed babies. Formula has vitamin D added, but breast milk is naturally low in vitamin D.

Cleaning baby’s teeth is very important, not just to get them clean after mealtimes, but to set a good example, and hopefully encourage good dental hygiene for the rest of their lives.

Your baby’s pediatrican may also recommend Nursery Water, water for babies and toddlers with fluoride added, or fluoride supplements, like my son’s doctor did.

Fluoride has long been know to reduce tooth decay in people who drink fluoridated water, but not without controversy. Opponents disagree with mass-medication, and there being no way to avoid fluoridated water other than buying pricey bottled water. Critics of fluoridated water say that tooth decay can be totally prevented with good dental care: brushing teeth, and seeing a dentist regularly.

And too much fluoride can be very bad. Too much causes discolored, brittle teeth, and over time, causes bone damage too. And most worrying of all, a recent Harvard study showed boys who drink fluoridated water have a much higher risk of developing devastating bone cancer.

And what about babies who drink formula? If the water used to make formula is fluoridated, they have no choice but to drink it. (Is there fluoride in your city water? It varies across the country. If you google “city water” plus the name of your town or city, you should get the city’s water department website, which will tell you the amount of fluoride in the water, and whether any more is added.)

So is it a good idea to add fluoride, from Nursery Water or supplements, to your baby’s diet?

In the city where I live, fluoride is added to the city water. So this mom is not adding any more fluoride to my son’s diet. Rather, I’m trying to encourage good tooth brushing, limit sugar, and set a good example of dental care myself.

So what should you do if you are concerned about fluoride, and your baby’s doctor recommends Nursery Water or fluoride supplements? Moms who have most reason to be concerned are those formula-feeding and your city water is already fluoridated. Ask the pediatrician them exactly why they are recommending those products, and what they believe the health benefits to your baby will be.

Teething in babies can be a real pain, for both the baby and the parent. But once those pearly whites are in, the “fun” isn’t over.

Babies and toddlers need to have their teeth brushed regularly, and should see a dentist before their first year.

Many people think that worrying about brushing isn’t important since the baby teeth will fall out anyway. But most children don’t lose all of their teeth until they’re older than 10 years old. Having decayed teeth will not be a pleasant experience for your school-aged child. Also, baby teeth are important for maintaining proper spacing for permanent teeth.

If tooth decay (also called dental caries) sets in, the teeth may eventually need to be pulled (not to mention the pain that having severe decay will cause). The pain and trauma of tooth decay and extraction is far worse than daily brushing.

What if your child does get tooth decay, despite your best efforts?

First, don’t beat yourself up. Parents have so much going on, and we all do our best. Furthermore, some tooth decay is due to problems in the womb, like taking antibiotics (which may be necessary sometimes). Some people are genetically predisposed to tooth decay. Processed foods, which the majority of us eat, may be the culprit also. In studies of other mammals, tooth decay becomes a problem only when the animals are fed human-altered foods.

Whatever the cause, if you notice holes in your baby’s teeth, get him to a dentist. Before doing anything drastic, it may be necessary to get a second opinion. Don’t be afraid to do this. Early and frequent checkups will help catch problems, hopefully before they begin.

For more information about baby tooth decay, check out the following resource:

http://www.brianpalmerdds.com/caries.htm

The information contained on this site is for educational purposes only and is not meant for diagnosis or treatment. Any information found on this site should be discussed with a health care professional. Use of this information should be done in accordance with the health care plan outlined by your health care professional. For specific professional or medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, consult your doctor or health care professional.