Dental Care for Your Baby
Congratulations on the arrival of your baby! Are you prepared for the arrival of your baby’s first tooth? Follow these guidelines, and your son or daughter will be on the way to a lifetime of healthy smiles!
Caring for Gums
Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, the gums can benefit from your careful attention. After breast- or bottle-feeding, wrap one finger with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze and gently rub it across your baby’s gum tissue. This practice clears your little one’s mouth of food fragments and builds good daily oral care habits.
Baby's First Tooth
When that first tooth erupts, it’s time to upgrade to a baby toothbrush. There are usually two options: a long-handled toothbrush that you and your baby can hold simultaneously or a finger puppet-like brush that fits over the tip of your pointer finger. In each case, the bristles are few and soft.
At this stage, toothpaste isn’t necessary; dip the brush in water before brushing. If your little one doesn’t react well to the introduction of a toothbrush, don’t give up. Switch back to a damp washcloth for a few months and try the toothbrush again. During the teething process, your child will want to chew on just about anything, and a baby toothbrush with a teether can become a favorite toy during this period.
Brushing with Toothpaste
You can use toothpaste with your child’s brush when more teeth appear. At this stage, use only a tiny amount of fluoridated toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice). From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting the toothpaste out after brushing, which should not be swallowed at any age.
Don’t give your baby sweetened liquids such as flavored drinks or soda. Even the sugars in fruit juice, formula, and milk (this goes for breast milk) can cause decay, so regular teeth and gum cleaning is vital. Also, ensure your baby never goes to bed with a bottle; sugary liquids in prolonged contact with teeth are a guarantee for early childhood decay, also called baby-bottle caries.
First Visit to the Dentist
You should bring your baby in for a visit within six months of the first tooth’s eruption – usually around their first birthday. Since decay can occur in even the smallest of teeth, the earlier your baby visits us, the more likely they are to avoid problems. We’ll look for signs of early problems with your baby’s oral health and check in about the best way to care for your little one’s teeth. Remember that preparing for each dental visit with a positive attitude goes a long way toward making your child comfortable with regular checkups.