Dental Care for Your Baby

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby! Are you prepared for the arrival of your baby’s first tooth? Follow these guidelines and your baby will be on her way to a lifetime of healthy smiles!

Even before your baby’s first tooth appears (or, in dental jargon, “erupts”), her gums can benefit from your careful attention. After breast- or bottle-feeding, wrap one finger with a clean, damp washcloth or piece of gauze and gently rub it across your baby’s gum tissue. This practice both clears your little one’s mouth of any fragments of food and begins the good habit of daily oral care.

When that first tooth makes an entrance, it is time to upgrade to a baby toothbrush. There are usually two options: a long-handled toothbrush that you and your baby can hold at the same time, and a finger-puppet-like brush that fits over the tip of your pointer finger. In each case the bristles are soft and few. At this stage, toothpaste is not necessary; just dip the brush in water before brushing. If your little one does not react well to the introduction of a toothbrush, do not give up; switch back to a damp washcloth for a few months, then try the toothbrush again. During the teething process your child will want to chew on just about anything — a baby toothbrush with a teether can become a favorite toy during this period.

When a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste with your child’s brush. However, for the first three years, be sure to choose toothpaste that does not contain fluoride. At this stage, use only a tiny amount of toothpaste. From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting the toothpaste out after brushing, to prepare her for fluoride toothpaste, which should not be swallowed at any age.

Do not give your baby any sort of sweetened liquids such as flavored drinks or soda. Even the sugars present in fruit juice, formula, and milk (this goes for breast milk as well) can play a role in causing decay, so regular tooth and gum cleaning is vital. Also, make sure your baby never goes to bed with a bottle, a “sippy” cup with milk, or sugary liquids such as cola, Kool-Aid, or sports drinks. When these liquids are in prolonged contact with her teeth, it is a guarantee for early childhood decay, also called baby-bottle caries.

It is recommended that you bring your baby in for a visit within six months of the first tooth’s eruption — usually around her first birthday. Since decay can occur in even the smallest of teeth, the earlier your baby visits us, the more likely she is to avoid problems. We will look for any signs of early problems with your baby’s oral heath and provide you with information about the best way to care for her teeth. Remember that preparing for each dental visit with a positive attitude goes a long way toward making your child comfortable with regular check-ups.

As part of the natural learning process, little ones are expert mimics, and you can take advantage of this talent. Brush and floss daily while your child is watching, and she will learn at an early age the importance of good oral habits. As soon as she shows interest, give her a toothbrush of her own and encourage her to “brush” with you. (You’ll find toothbrushes with chunky, short handles that are easy to grip, either at our office or your local store.) Most children do not have the dexterity necessary to thoroughly clean their own teeth until they are proficient in handwriting skills, so you’ll have to do that part of the job for them. Try different tactics to make brushing fun: flavored toothpaste, a toothbrush with a favorite character on it, singing songs about brushing. The primary goal is to instill healthy oral habits at an early age to set your child up for a lifetime of healthy, cavity-free teeth!

Also remember that bacteria in your mouth are transmissible to your child, so the better your oral health is, the fewer amounts of bacteria will be available to transfer to your child. Avoiding things like cleaning pacifiers with your own saliva can also help in decreasing the transfer of bacteria in your mouth to your child’s mouth.