Your baby’s dental journey starts with the right baby teeth care. Learning to brush your baby’s teeth right can make a difference to their dental health in the long run. Start cleaning your baby’s teeth the minute their first tooth appears and be aware of the basic practices involved in oral hygiene. Here are a couple of tips on how to clean baby teeth:
Babies’ teeth start appearing, in general, when they are between four to seven months old. The first set of teeth which appear in babies is the two bottom front teeth.
Taking care of your baby’s teeth as soon as they appear is important as it can affect their speaking skills and help in the formation of their jawline. Further, taking care of their teeth will prevent infections and other teeth problems which result from poor infant oral health care.
At first, you may clean your baby’s gums directly using your finger or a soft-bristled brush to let them get used to the sensations of brushing. Using a toothbrush for baby teeth care is ideal when signs of teething are revealed.
If you are using a toothbrush, use one with a small head and soft nylon bristles. Ideally, pick a colourful brush or one with cartoon characters so that your baby looks forward to his brushing sessions and make toothbrushing times a fond memory.
Regarding special toothpaste, it is generally not recommended to use toothpaste before the baby turns three years old as they don’t learn the motions of spitting fluids until then.
According to the American Dental Association, you can use a smear of low-fluoride toothpaste for ages three and below.
Once the baby turns three, you can begin using a pea-sized dollop of toothpaste for baby dental care.
While brushing teeth is something most of us do when we are almost half asleep, brushing a baby’s teeth may need more of an effort. Here are a few tips to help you get started
Your child will begin brushing when they turn six to eight years old. When teaching your baby to brush, it is important to turn it into a fun-filled experience. You can sing favourite songs associated with brushing and gently allow the baby to get used to the motions and sensations of brushing. Toddlers must be guided to spit the toothpaste after brushing and you may use an electric toothbrush to help your toddler get used to brushing. Brushing must be encouraged twice a day for optimal oral dental care.
Yes. Brushing baby’s gums will eliminate bad breath and signs of bacterial, thus preventing dental infections. Clean your baby’s gums with a washcloth at least once a day, including their gums, after the feeding process to exercise proper baby dental care.
Once teeth appear, clean your baby’s mouth twice a day minimum. You may switch to a soft baby brush once your child turns 1 to 2 years old and add a small dab of fluoride-free toothpaste which is absolutely safe for infants. Slowly start flossing their teeth once they get comfortable with the sensations of toothbrushing.
During the first 5 months, use a damp washcloth and wipe your baby’s mouth clean after feeding times. This gets him/her get used to baby dental care routines and establish proper oral hygiene habits from the start. This helps remove food buildups and prevent cavities from forming on their tooth. Adding fluoride supplements or using a dab of fluoride toothpaste helps fights against cavities as well.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that’s found in tap water and toothpaste. Fluoride helps prevent teeth decay by strengthening the developing teeth of children, hardening enamel and preventing dissolution through demineralization processes in the baby’s teeth.
Tap water sometimes contains fluoride which may reduce the need for fluoride supplements in the beginning, however, check with your doctor regarding this since too much fluoride content can damage your baby’s teeth.
Babies must not be given fluoride supplements during the first six months. After six months, based on doctor’s recommendations fluoride supplements can be given to your baby based on overall fluoride intake through tap water and toothpaste content.
Your baby may feel discomfort and be reluctant to let their teeth get brushed in the beginning. A good workaround for this is making fun little games and demonstrating how toothbrushing is important by doing it yourself. A cold teething run or a cold washcloth which the baby can chew on helps too.
If your baby has teething troubles consult a doctor or a dental specialist. Before using special teething gels and creams, consult your doctor. Do not give your baby aspirin as it can cause Reye’s syndrome and lead to death for children under 18 years old.
Brushing your baby’s teeth is not as hard as one expects. By following the above tips and keeping fluoride intake in mind, you’ll be strolling through motherhood lane and help your baby establish perfect oral hygiene habits, thus safeguarding their teeth and their dental future.