DENTAL CARE FOR YOUR BABY

Home » Services » Pediatric dentistry » Dental care for your baby

First of all, we want to congratulate you on the birth of your precious baby!

We want to make sure you are ready for the first tooth. Below is some information to help you get ready for a lifetime of smiles!

Before any teeth come in, your baby’s gums need attention to stay healthy. You should clean your baby’s mouth with a damp washcloth after every feeding. This helps get rid of any food particles and start the habit of good oral care.

When the first tooth appears, it is time to start brushing. You can use two types of brushes. One is a long-handled toothbrush so that you and your children can hold the handle together and brush their teeth at the same time. The other one fits on your finger. You always want to choose one with soft bristles.

When you first start brushing, you don’t need to use toothpaste. Just dip the brush in water before brushing. If your children don’t like it, you can go back to using a damp cloth. When your children are really teething, you may want to buy a toothbrush with a teether to get them used to the toothbrush.

Once your children have a few teeth, it is time to start using toothpaste. You want to start with some that does not contain fluoride, unless advised otherwise by your dentist. Too much fluoride can be dangerous for young children. You should start with only a minimal amount of toothpaste and teach your children to spit the toothpaste out so that they are ready for fluoride toothpaste when the time comes.

To avoid cavities, you should avoid giving your children sweetened liquids like soda. Even though some items do not have as much sugar, even fruit juice, milk, and formula contain some sugar, which can cause decay. It is also important that you don’t put your children to bed with a bottle. All of that sugar in prolonged contact with teeth is just asking for cavities. This problem is so common it has a name: Baby-Bottle Caries.

Your child’s first dentist appointment should be scheduled within six months of the first tooth’s arrival. Since even the youngest children can get decay, it is really important to visit the dentist regularly. During these early visits, we are looking for any problems and to help you get in a habit of practicing good dental care. It is important that you stay positive so that your child enjoys coming in to visit us.

If you have any questions about caring for your child’s teeth, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (702) 255-0133.