Early dental care is essential for the long-term health of your child.
Taking good care of your child’s first set of teeth helps lower the risk of tooth decay and ensures proper jaw development. Proper dental care should start while your child’s baby teeth are coming in. Here are some tips to help you understand best practices.
Keep Gums Clean
Before your child starts teething, you can help prevent plaque from forming by wiping down her gums after feedings.
Dental Care for Brand New Teeth
Your child’s first teeth might start to come in through the gums at around four to six months of age. Brush your child’s teeth twice a day for about two minutes using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste. When your child has her first set of baby teeth, it’s important to prevent baby bottle tooth decay. You can do this by not giving your child a bottle with formula or breast milk in it to help him/her fall asleep. Instead, give your child a pacifier or a bottle with water if she’s used to having a bottle at bedtime.
Dental Visits
Your child should see a dentist for the first time at around one year of age. Bringing your child to the dentist this early helps get her used to cleanings and dental exams. It also gives the dentist a chance to detect dental problems early.
Preventing Cavities
As your child gets more baby teeth, which should happen until she’s around three, you can lower her risk of cavities by brushing regularly and watching what she eats. Have her eat healthy snacks, such as vegetables and cheese, rather than sugary snacks.
You can protect your child’s teeth by seeing a dentist for early dental care at Padden Dental.
Source: Wikimedia Commons