Good oral health care helps your baby get the best start in life, but many parents ask us how to be proactive about oral health when their baby doesn’t even have all their teeth yet.
At Kids Dental Center, Dr. Bosede Adeniji provides comprehensive pediatric dentistry care to help parents and babies lay the groundwork for a lifetime of good oral and whole-body health. Today, we’re discussing how you can keep those tiny teeth healthy from the very start of life.
It might seem like taking good care of your baby’s teeth isn’t quite as vital as looking after their permanent teeth, since children lose those teeth anyway. But, that’s completely untrue: Babies need good oral health care just as much as older children and adults.
Here’s how healthy baby teeth play an important role in your baby’s oral health:
As a parent, it’s up to you to keep your baby’s tiny teeth healthy until they’re old enough to brush their teeth on their own. At Kids Dental Center, we’re glad to help you learn how to protect your baby’s oral health.
There are several aspects involved in keeping your baby’s teeth healthy, including:
You can start caring for your child’s oral health even before their teeth come in. From the time of birth, wipe your baby’s gums lightly using a damp piece of gauze or washcloth following each feeding.
Once your baby’s first tooth erupts, start brushing twice a day (morning and evening). Use a soft baby-sized toothbrush and an amount of fluoride toothpaste about as big as a single grain of rice.
As your baby grows and reaches toddlerhood, transition to a standard routine of brushing for two minutes, twice a day, using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
The American Dental Association recommends scheduling your baby’s first dental visit as soon as they get their first tooth or at 12 months old, whichever happens first. During visits, Dr. Adeniji checks your baby’s teeth and gums and discusses oral health care tips with you.
If your child has an oral health issue, Dr. Adeniji recommends the best approach so you can prevent it from advancing and causing long-term problems. She can also recommend preventive measures, such as dental sealants that help repel bacteria and prevent tooth enamel damage.
A healthy diet is one of the best ways to protect your baby’s teeth. Raw veggies, lean proteins, and calcium-rich foods are all good choices as your child starts transitioning to solid foods.
Sugar, including candy and sugary drinks, can be extremely harmful to your baby’s teeth. It’s best to give your little one sweeter foods through raw fruits, limiting the high-sugar items to very rare occasions.
If you start preventive care now, your baby will one day thank you for their great oral health. To learn more about protecting your baby’s oral health, or to schedule an appointment, click here to contact us at Kids Dental Center today.
