Proper dental care for your baby starts before he or she even has teeth!
Although your baby’s first set of teeth is just temporary, caring for it properly is no less important. If baby teeth get cavities or other bacteria that aren’t properly taken care of, it can damage the child’s adult teeth and possibly even harm their overall health. Here are some tips for caring for your baby’s teeth at all stages of his or her life.
Before Baby
Believe it or not, caring for your own teeth before the baby comes actually benefits them as much as it benefits you. Expecting mamas should schedule a cleaning for some time in the second trimester of pregnancy. Making sure your teeth remain properly cleaned and cared for during your pregnancy drastically reduces the risk of bacteria being transferred to your baby.
Baby’s First Dental Exam
There’s a first time for everything, and that includes your baby’s first trip to the dentist. This visit should happen no later than one year of age. Ideally, your tot should meet their dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts. Baby’s first dental visit has several goals:
The exam will assess whether or not additional steps should be taken in order to keep baby’s teeth healthy.
To educate parents on how to care for their little one’s mouth and new teeth
Choosing the right professional to care for baby’s teeth for the first five years
Keeping Tiny Mouths Clean
Before your baby even has teeth, you should clean their gums in the morning and at night, as well as after feedings to discourage food buildup. You can easily do this by wrapping your clean index finger with clean, damp gauze and wiping the gauze over baby’s gums.
Once teeth start emerging, it’s time to start brushing. You can purchase toothpaste that is made without fluoride, which is actually safer for the first couple of years when kids tend to swallow their toothpaste. There are also kid-friendly toothbrushes with easy-to-grip handles and soft bristles to keep those little pearly-whites clean.
You Can Trust Olney Dental for All of Your Dental Care Needs
For all of your oral care questions and concerns, Olney Dental has the expertise and professionalism to get them the answers they need. Olney Dental is ready to supply you with expert service in a professional environment. Schedule an appointment online today! For more information on how we can give your family the best dentist experience available, give us a call at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online. For more dental tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Pinterest.