Having a baby can be a very stressful, yet extremely rewarding time. You probably got the feeding time, bed time, bath time and diaper time down pact. Now, you it’s time for the most commonly forgotten important thing: oral hygiene time.
As a parent, you tend to forget about your baby’s oral hygiene because your little bundle of joy came with no teeth. However, it is wise for us to start our baby off right. That means starting good oral hygiene practices as soon as possible.
When do I start brushing my baby’s teeth?
This is a question many parents, new and old, ask day-to-day. The answer is: You should clean your child’s gums before he/she even get the first tooth.
Starting early will save you a lot of fuss later on in your kid’s childhood. All you really have to do is wipe the gums with a piece of gauze or even a soft, wet washcloth while during bath time. You will not need any toothpaste just yet.
Normally, bacteria in the mouth doesn’t harm the gums before the child gets teeth. But, it can be quite hard to tell when your child’s teeth start pushing through. So, it is best to start early.
Brushing Baby Teeth
Baby teeth soon start to appear in your child’s mouth. This usually happens around 6 months old. You will need to look for a baby toothbrush with a small head and a grip suitable for your own hand. Just use a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste, an amount of a small piece of rice is more than enough for your child.
Just as you brush your teeth, you will follow the same routine for your baby, brushing twice a day. The correct format is to brush inside the teeth, along with outside of your child’s teeth. Always remember to brush her/his tongue to help get rid of the bacteria that causes bad breath.
However, the only difference with kids is that there is no need to rinse their mouths out after brushing. This is because you will only be using a very small amount of toothpaste at this time.
Fluoride for Kids
Your baby’s teeth can benefit from a little fluoride. Baby’s teeth are very similar to adult teeth. In this way, fluoride can help prevent tooth decay and make the teeth resistant to acids and bacteria that can harm them. However, just like you, babies and kids can get fluoride from their toothpaste and water.
Dentist Visits for Kids
Some pediatricians and other experts say your child should see the dentist on his/her first birthday. However, dentists many dentists tend to recommend an earlier visit than your child’s pediatrician.
The American Dental Association suggests you take your child to the dentist as soon as she/he gets that first tooth. The reason behind this? Well, in the last 30 or so years, tooth decay in children hasn’t declined. About 40% of children end up with decaying teeth by the age of five.
It is important to get children on the right track when it comes to oral hygiene. And, it’s best to start cleaning their gums early, brush their teeth when they first come in, and keep them away from sugary foods.