How To Care For Your Baby's Teeth
Before your baby actually gets teeth in their mouth
, taking care of their gums is essential to good oral health. Running a damp washcloth over a baby's gums following feedings can prevent buildup of damaging bacteria.Once a child has a few teeth above the gums, parents can begin to use a soft child's toothbrush or rub them with gauze at the end of the day. Once teeth erupt, a parent should begin to brush a child's teeth twice daily (morning and evening) and floss between the child's teeth once every day as soon as two teeth touch each other.
Babies usually cut their first teeth between 4 and 7 months of age, although there is a very wide range of normal for this aspect of development! Once your baby starts to show some of the signs of teething - fussiness, a rash, excessive drooling and an increased sucking/chewing reflex - you may start thinking about dental care.
Although milk teeth are not permanent, establishing good oral hygiene is vital to prevent premature loss of the milk teeth, infected gums and bad tooth-brushing habits.
Once a baby's milk teeth have begun to erupt, the teeth and gums should be cleaned once or twice a day. The wet washcloth method can still be used, although parents should now be aware of the danger of having fingers bitten!
The alternative is a toothbrush designed for babies. Small, soft-bristled brushes are available, as well as ridged rubber toothbrushes. It is not recommended to use an electric toothbrush for babies. Let the baby suck and chew on the toothbrush to become familiar with it.
At this stage, toothpaste is neither required nor recommended. Babies swallow rather than spit, and ingesting too much fluoride has been linked to a number of health problems including fluoridosis - white spots on adult teeth in later years.
Brushing teeth will become more important as your baby begins eating solids. Use common sense - instead of brushing in the morning and evening, brush after your baby has finished a drink of juice or eaten a bowl of applesauce.
From around 18 months, you can begin using a small (pea-sized) quantity of regular toothpaste. For those worried about the fluoride content of adult toothpaste, special low-fluoride formulations are available for babies and toddlers.
Many toddlers balk at the taste of mint toothpaste; fortunately, alternative flavors ranging from bubble-gum to berry now exist. Older babies should be encouraged to practice brushing their own teeth, but parents must be realistic and insist on helping to ensure a thorough job! A quick swipe on the baby's tongue will help prevent bad breath.
As soon as your baby has two teeth that touch, flossing is recommended to prevent bacteria building up in the cracks. Flossing a baby's teeth is not the easiest thing in the world.
Some parents like to use flossing picks rather than regular dental floss. The plastic flossing tools which look like cheese graters can also make the job easier.
Be very gentle to begin with - flossing often causes slight bleeding for the first few days, but should cease after that. The best position to floss your child's teeth is sitting cross-legged on the floor with their head upside down in your lap.
Never share a toothbrush with your baby (or anyone else!). Bacteria can be transmitted which cause infections and bad breath.
Normal toothbrushes should be replaced every three months. A baby who likes to chew and suck on his toothbrush may wear it out even earlier - keep an eye out for worn, frayed bristles.
Remember that infant oral hygiene is as much about establishing good habits as protecting the baby's teeth. By accustoming your child to gentle washing, tooth brushing and flossing, you will set up a pattern of oral care which will help prevent dental issues in later life.
After a child's first teeth break through, parents should provide fruit juices (not to exceed one cup per day) during meals only. Carbonated beverages should be excluded from a child's diet. Infants should not be placed in bed with a bottle containing anything but water.
Proper and early dental care will ensure that a child grows up maybe not loving the dentist but at least not fearing the experience. With a colorful toothbrush and yummy tasting non-fluoride toothpaste in hand, older babies and toddlers are armed with the tools to help them on their way to a lifetime of happy smiles and healthy gums.
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