Does Your Baby’s Smile Need Dental Care?

Posted July 22, 2016

Is any smile more precious than your baby’s? Your child’s smile probably lights up every room he or she enters, and it has, of course, secured a special place in your own heart. What you may not realize, though, is that to protect that priceless smile, you will need to begin caring for your child’s teeth early. In fact, even before baby’s first tooth has erupted, there are still simple steps that can be taken to protect your baby’s oral health.

Ways You Can Protect Baby’s Tiny Teeth

Whether one tooth is visible, or several, it is actually important to help care for your child’s smile through regular preventive care. One way you can do so is by gently wiping your baby’s gums clean, after feedings. This helps remove sugar that could allow bacteria to grow and lead to irritation of the sensitive gum tissue. Using a clean, damp cloth, simply gently wipe the gums after each mealtime.

Once your baby’s first tooth erupts, it is time to begin gently brushing that tooth, and later the other teeth. Initially, the toothpaste used should only be the size of a grain of rice. Around age three, you can increase the amount of paste used to the size of a pea.

If your child will allow you, it is wise to brush the tongue as well as the teeth, as this is another part of the smile that can harbor bacteria.

When Do Dental Visits Need to Begin?

Children should begin visiting the dentist for routine checkups around their first birthday. That’s because regular professional care can help ensure your child’s teeth are erupting correctly, and that they are not struggling with baby bottle tooth decay, or other oral health threats that are common with young children, including babies and toddlers.