The nurse working with a family has observed that the older children have a large number of dental caries, so the nurse plans to provide the mother with information to prevent the development of dental caries in her new infant

Question

What instructions will the nurse include in the teaching provided to the mother? Standard Text: Select all that apply. 1. Wiping the infant's gums with soft, moist gauze once or twice daily
2. Giving foods high in sugar only at breakfast time
3. Not allowing the infant to sleep with a bottle in the bed
4. Reminding the mother that dental care is not needed until the permanent teeth erupt
5. Using a topical anesthetic daily, beginning as soon as the first tooth begins to erupt

Answer 1

1,3
Rationale 1: Wiping the infant's gums with soft, moist gauze will help remove food particles from the gums.
Rationale 2: Foods high in sugar should be avoided in the infant period.
Rationale 3: Babies who are put to bed with a bottle often fall asleep with a mouth full of formula or juice. This fluid remains in contact with the upper teeth, making them susceptible to "bottle mouth syndrome."
Rationale 4: Dental decay in the "baby" teeth can lead to oral health issues with the permanent teeth.
Rationale 5: Topical anesthetic should not be applied daily and does not improve oral health. Topical anesthetics will only reduce the pain of teething.
Global Rationale: