Dental Care for Your Baby
As your baby grows, those tiny baby teeth will soon make their first appearance, and you need to be prepared to care for them once they erupt. By following a few simple guidelines early on, you’ll set your little one on the path to a healthy smile.
Caring for Gums
Caring for your baby’s mouth starts even before the first tooth comes in. After breast- or bottle-feeding, wrap one finger with a clean, damp washcloth or piece of gauze and gently rub it across your baby’s gum tissue. This helps remove any milk residue or food remnants and begins the process of building good daily oral care habits.
Baby’s First Tooth
When that first tooth makes an entrance, 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 together, and a finger-puppet-like brush that fits over the tip of your pointer finger. In each case, the bristles are soft and few in number.
At this stage, toothpaste isn’t necessary; just 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
Once a few more teeth appear, you can start using a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste on your child’s toothbrush—just a smear about the size of a grain of rice. From the beginning, encourage your little one to practice spitting out the toothpaste after brushing, as it shouldn’t be swallowed at any age.
Avoiding Cavities
Avoid giving your baby any sort of sweetened liquids, such as flavored drinks or soda. Even the sugars in fruit juice, formula, and milk—including breast milk—can cause tooth decay. That’s why regular cleaning of your baby’s gums and teeth is so important.
Also, make sure your baby never goes to bed with a bottle, as prolonged contact with sugary liquids can lead to early childhood tooth decay, commonly known as baby-bottle caries.
First Visit to the Dentist
We recommend bringing your baby in for their first dental visit within six months of the first tooth erupting—usually around their first birthday. Tooth decay can start early, even in tiny teeth, so an early visit helps us catch and prevent problems before they begin.
During this visit, we’ll check your child’s oral development, look for any signs of early problems, and discuss the best ways to care for their growing smile.
Remember that preparing for each dental visit with a positive attitude goes a long way toward making your child comfortable with regular checkups.
Setting a Good Example
As part of the natural learning process, little ones are expert mimics, and you can take advantage of this talent. Let your child see you brushing and flossing daily—they’ll quickly pick up on the importance of taking care of their teeth just like you do.
As soon as your child shows interest, give them a toothbrush of their own and encourage your toddler to “brush” with you. Look for toothbrushes with chunky, short handles that are easy to grip. Most children don’t have the dexterity necessary to thoroughly clean their own teeth until they’re about six or seven, so you’ll still need to help them.
To make brushing fun, try using flavored toothpaste, a toothbrush with a favorite character on it, or singing songs about brushing. The goal is to create positive and consistent healthy oral habits at an early age, setting your child up for a lifetime of healthy, cavity-free teeth.
Canton
1657 North Canton Center Road, Canton, MI 48187
frontdesk@cantonpediatricdentist.com
(734) 335-7270