Baby Dental Care
Just because your baby doesn’t have any teeth doesn’t mean that you don’t need to clean his or her mouth! The American Dental Association (ADA) actually recommends that you begin cleaning your baby’s mouth when he or she is only a few days old. How do you clean a baby’s mouth? After a feeding, wipe the gums with a clean gauze pad or washcloth. This removes food that can help bacteria grow and plaque that can damage future teeth. You can also buy a special finger-cover to put over your finger and wipe down the gums.
Once your baby has teeth you should brush (or help him or her brush) them twice a day. You do not need to use toothpaste until the baby is two years old. Even then, only use a pea-sized amount, and make sure your child spits it out. For your baby, use a soft baby-brush, and let your baby see you brushing your own teeth. This will help him or her relax and let you clean his or her teeth. One of the biggest challenges at this age is getting your baby accustomed to having someone’s hand in his or her mouth!
The ADA also says it is important to feed your baby before beginning a bed-time routine. If your baby eats to fall asleep, he or she will sleep with food on the gums and teeth.
As soon as your baby has two teeth next to each other, you should begin to floss them. Otherwise, plaque can build up between the teeth. Simply brushing will not remove all the food and sugar from between the baby’s teeth.
Most babies should see the dentist by their first birthday, according to the ADA. If your baby had teeth come in before he or she was six months old, you should take your baby to the dentist about six months after the teeth emerge. These early visits are primarily to get your baby used to the dentist and make sure you know how to brush and floss your baby’s teeth. Taking care of your baby’s teeth early will help him or her develop great life-long habits and healthy teeth and gums.
Technorati Tags: healthy teeth and gums, gauze pad, american dental association, bed time, first birthday, floss, toothpaste, plaque, bacteria, babies, sleep
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