Tips For Baby Tooth Care

Many first-time parents panic whenever their adorable babies start teething. There are a number of symptoms that usually emerge, which may cause a lot of discomfort for the babies. Many people neglect baby teeth (commonly referred to as milk teeth or deciduous teeth) with the assumption that they will be ultimately replaced by permanent teeth. Just because the milk teeth don't stay around for too long doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't prone to problems that could prevent your baby from having a beautiful smile.

When Should an Oral Hygiene Routine Start?

According to dentists, oral hygiene routine should begin even before the teeth erupt in the baby's mouth. You can wrap a wet gauze pad around your finger and use it to clean your newborn's gums. It is recommended that you do this from the time your baby turns 2 months old, and do it at least once per day.

Importance of Taking Care of Baby Teeth

Many parents wonder why it is so vital to take care of a set of teeth that only lasts a couple of years. Well, establishing a good oral care habit early is important because:

  • It helps to prevent a variety of potential dental problems such as tooth decay
  • It helps to prevent your baby from having difficulty in speech or chewing due to cavities.
  • It helps to protect the eruption pattern of the permanent teeth. If the eruption pattern is affected, your child is highly likely to have crooked teeth.

How to Take Care of Milk Teeth

The following are some helpful tips that will help you improve your baby's oral health:

  1. When cleaning your baby's mouth, don't forget to clean the front of the tongue, as it is a common site for bacteria buildup.
  2. Once the teeth erupt, you should introduce a toothbrush to the oral care routine. Choose a toothbrush that has small, soft bristles.
  3. At two months, no toothpaste is needed. At this stage, you can use lukewarm water only to wash the baby's mouth.
  4. As the baby grows older, you can add a small amount of toothpaste.
  5. You can use fluoride toothpaste under the dentist's advisement.
  6. You can start with brushing the baby's teeth once a day, and gradually increase the frequency as time goes by.
  7. Assist the baby in developing the habit of rinsing and spitting. If he is unable to spit, ensure that he drinks enough water to dilute the paste that he may have swallowed.
  8. It is advisable that you brush at the same time with your child to encourage him to follow the same motion.
  9. After brushing, it's good to reward the child for his efforts.

For more information, contact Dr. Frank Longo or a similar dental professional.


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