As a conscientious parent, you understand the importance of proper oral health care. You take your children to the dentist twice a year, remind them to brush at least twice a day, and you encourage them to floss regularly. What do you do for your youngest children? Even the baby’s mouths and teeth require attention. Follow some basic guidelines from Family Dentist Morrisville , and your baby’s dental health will be off to a good start.
Look After the Gums
Even before your baby’s teeth come in, it’s critical that practice good habits for a clean mouth. After each feeding, take a warm washcloth and wipe off the gums. This should remove excess food.
Toothpaste Time
By age 2, most toddlers will have teeth. It’s perfectly safe at this point to start brushing with toothpaste. You should do this at least twice a day for your little one. More effectively, brush after every time your child eats. Be careful not to use too much toothpaste, however, as this could harm your child. At age 2, when teeth are just coming in, only use about the size of a grain of rice on the brush. Don’t neglect this responsibility. Even though your child will lose his or her baby teeth in the coming years, you can spare your precious one a lot of pain and discomfort by staving off issues such as cavities and gingivitis.
Add a Little More
By the time your toddler is 3, you can start to increase the amount of toothpaste you use on the brush. As directed on most toothpaste tubes, you should put a pea-sized amount on the brush and clean every tooth in the child’s mouth. At this point, your child can start to brush on his or her own, though you’ll want to supervise and provide assistance as needed.
Limit the Bottles
Some parents get into the habit of sending their babies to bed with a bottle. Though this may seem convenient to you, and it may even help your baby fall asleep, this is a bad habit to get into. This is one of the most common ways young children develop cavities and other dental problems. There are other potential risks, too, such as choking. Don’t allow your child to get used to doing this.
By following these tips, you can help ensure your baby gets off to a good start with dental health. Commit from day one to practice safe and effective habits for your youngest children.
Thank you to Alliance Dentistry for your input on dental health for babies.
