Teething
and Tooth Care
What
to expect when your baby's teeth make their first appearance -- and
how to care for them.
7
Tips on Baby Tooth Care
Practical tips for keeping baby's brand-new teeth healthy.
Now that your
baby's teeth are on their way in, it's time to start taking care of
them. Even though this set will only be around for a short time, their
health essential to your baby's gums and those future permanent teeth.
Make sure your
baby's new teeth get the best care:
1. Start cleaning
your child's mouth even before her teeth come in. Wipe the gums off
after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece
of gauze wrapped around your finger. You can also buy thimblelike,
soft rubbery devices (they fit over your index finger) to use for
rubbing off excess food.
2. Once the teeth
begin coming in, start taking care of them right away. Many parents
think baby teeth aren't important because they're eventually replaced
by permanent ones. But these first teeth preserve the spacing for
the permanent ones and help baby chew and talk. If they're not cared
for properly the can decay, leading to a gum infection called gingivitis,
which can affect the spacing of permanent teeth.
3. Watch for
cavities. The first signs of cavities in baby teeth are discoloration
and minor pitting. Putting baby to bed with a bottle of milk (or worse,
juice) is notorious for causing cavities. Don't leave your infant
with a bottle for long periods of time, especially if you notice he's
no longer feeding and is just using the bottle for comfort.
4. Follow meals
with water. Most infant foods easily wash off baby's teeth with just
a drink of water after meals. But it's good to introduce a toothbrush
(choose a very soft one) as soon as possible, so baby can get used
to having it in his mouth. You probably won't need to use the brush
to actually clean baby's teeth until he's eating only table foods
(and has a significant number of teeth), at around 18 months. However,
you'll want to gently clean your child's teeth with a toothbrush or
thimblelike cleaner and some bicarbonate of soda if your toddler has
eaten sticky, sugary foods.
5. Begin using
a pea-size amount of nonfluoride toothpaste once baby is about age
2. Wait until at least age 3, when your child is old enough not to
swallow the toothpaste, before introducing the fluoride kind.
6. Regulate baby's
fluoride intake. Even though your baby isn't using a fluoride toothpaste,
he should get enough fluoride -- important for preventing tooth decay
-- from drinking tap water. Most communal water supplies have it added
just for this beneficial purpose. Ask your doctor about fluoride supplements
baby can take once he's 6 months old if your tap water is not fluoridated
or your child doesn't drink any tap water.
7. Schedule a
dental exam. The American Dental Association recommends that baby
get his first dental exam at age 1, but most pediatricians agree that
the first visit can wait until age 3, as long as you practice good
home care.
If you take good
care of this first set of pearly whites, you can establish good dental
habits for years to come.
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
