Caring for your baby: Even a toothless little grin needs dental care

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Feeding, changing, bathing, and diapering are just a few of the many things new parents have to be concerned with when taking care of a newborn. Here’s one to add to the list…oral care. A new parent might protest: “But my baby doesn’t have any teeth!” Ah, but they have those healthy, pink little gums and to keep them that way, they need to be cared for.

When you ask most parents what concerns they have about their children’s teeth, they might say cavity prevention or whether or not their child will need braces. Did you know children are at risk of developing gingivitis? Learning how to properly care for your child’s teeth in infancy will set them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s website www.adha.org, the best strategy to keep your child’s mouth healthy from birth on is to “instill proper oral habits early.” In fact, establishing good oral hygiene routines should be done “as early as infancy and continued throughout life.”

A lot of parents don’t think about caring for their infant’s mouth. What parents often don’t realize is that their baby’s gums need to be cleaned since their mouths are constantly in contact with formula or breast milk. The ADHA recommends cleaning your infant’s gums after each feeding with a wet washcloth.

Soon enough, your little infant will be ready to try rice cereal and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Well, just as we need to clean our teeth after eating, so do babies. As parents, we are in charge of their care so taking care of their teeth is our responsibility, too.

When that first tooth and any others start to come in, these new teeth will need to be brushed gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Many parents wonder when the reins can be handed over to their child and they will be ready to brush their teeth on their own. Obviously every child is different but around ages two or three you can encourage them to try to brush their own teeth. It is still best for mom or dad to check their work and brush the child’s teeth as well.

If you aren’t already aware, it is important to find out whether or not the water in your home is fluoridated. Fluoridated water is vital to the prevention of cavities. If your water is not fluoridated, you should inform your dentist so that he or she can discuss your options to make sure your child’s teeth are receiving the fluoride they need.

Many parents don’t know when to take their child to visit the dentist for the first time. The ADHA recommends parents schedule that all-important first visit around your child’s first birthday. Obviously your baby won’t have a full mouth of teeth yet, but this first visit is a good opportunity for your dentist to make sure everything is developing properly in your child’s mouth and check for any cavities.

Bright Side Dental is a dental group with locations in Sterling Heights, Livonia, Canton, and Royal Oak, Michigan. Visit www.BrightSideDental.com.