Baby's Teeth

When your baby’s new teeth are on their way you should begin with taking care of them. Though this set of your baby’s teeth is only for a short time it is important to take care of them for the gums and the future teeth which will be the permanent set.

You need to ensure that your baby’s new teeth get the best care that you can give. Here are five tips you can use which will make this job easy for you.

1. Start Cleaning Your Baby’s Gums Before The Teeth Come In

Odd as it may seem but it is a good idea to start cleaning your baby’s gums before the first teeth emerge.

Bacteria that is found in the mouth cannot harm the gums before the teeth come out but it is difficult to tell once the teeth start pushing through, so it is better if you start with the cleaning early.

You can do this during bath time by wrapping gauze or a soft washcloth around your index finger wet it and clean your baby’s gums.

This way your baby will develop the habit of getting his mouth cleaned in his daily routine and this will help with the transition to tooth-brushing later.

2. Start Brushing Your Baby’s Teeth After They Start Coming In

As soon as your child gets his first teeth which are generally around 6 months buy your baby his first toothbrush.

You can easily find it as it is written on the package 0-6 months. Some children can get their first teeth as late as 15 to 18 months so if your baby still does not have any teeth don’t worry every child has its own time.

Here are a few things you need to keep in mind.

  • Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day, once in the morning and second time just before you put him to bed.
  • Use toothpaste especially for baby’s and put a very small amount on the toothbrush just a small dot.
  • Brush the inside and outside of your baby’s teeth gently and the tongue as well if he lets you this will dislodge the bacteria that cause bad breadth. You do not need to rinse as you are using very small amount of toothpaste.
  • Change the toothbrush as soon as the bristles start to splay or look worn-out.

At this moment the baby’s teeth are enough far apart that you do not need to floss them. There is no evidence that shows that flossing your baby’s teeth makes any difference.

Dentists usually recommend flossing when the surface of the teeth touch and you are unable to clean them with toothbrush.

3. How Much Fluoride Does Your Baby Need

A little fluoride can benefit the developing teeth of your baby. The recommended amount for children under the age of 3 is 0.25 milligrams a day.

Fluoride helps to strengthen the tooth enamel so that it becomes resistant to harmful bacteria’s and acids and thus prevents tooth decay.

Babies get fluoride from toothpaste, supplements (if needed), and water and from a fluoride varnish which can be provided by the primary healthcare provider or a dentist.

The water that you use to make your baby’s formula, if that contains fluoride he will get his fluoride from the bottle feedings.

The municipal water supplies are mostly fortified with fluoride. You can get information about your water from your local water authority.

If the water that you consume is not fluoridated or you are using water from a well then you can get a test kit from a hardware store, your local health department or from a pharmacy.

If the content of fluoride is less than 0.3 parts per million then you can ask your child’s dentist or doctor if you need to give your child a fluoride supplement.

The doctor can give you a fluoride prescription for your child in the form of drops that you can easily put in your baby’s bottle or cereal once daily. Experts do not recommend supplements of fluoride for babies which are under 6 months old.

Fruit juices and bottled water may have fluoride in them but the amount is not always written on the label.

Remember that although a little amount of fluoride is good for your baby’s teeth, if you give too much it results to a condition that is called fluorosis, in which white spots appear on your child’s permanent teeth.

That is why it is always important that you use just the tiniest amount of toothpaste while brushing your baby’s teeth till your child is old enough to rinse it out.

4. When You Should Start Taking Your Baby To The Dentist

Experts recommend starting taking your baby to the dentist within six months after the first tooth erupts or around your baby’s first birthday whichever is first.

Meanwhile, at every visit that your baby makes by her primary healthcare provider, her teeth should be checked and get fluoride varnish applied to her teeth after every three to six months depending on the risk your baby has of cavities.

These risk factors can be poor dental health in the mother during the pregnancy or family history of cavities.

When you take your child to the dentist make sure that you let the dentist know what kind of fluoride treatments your baby has already received from the doctor.

Just in case you are unable to afford dental care for your child you can get in touch with your local health department and get information about the resources.

5. Be Aware Of Foods That Can Cause Tooth Decay In Babies

There are certain foods that contribute in tooth decay and cavities. Especially foods that are sweet are common culprits, for example:

  • Fruits
  • Dry fruits
  • Juices
  • Peanut butter and jelly

Starches also contribute in the development of cavities, such as:

  • Bread
  • Crackers
  • Pretzels
  • Pasta

When you give your baby these foods try giving them at mealtimes rather than giving them as snacks.

This way they are more likely to dislodge and won’t remain long on the teeth. Also serve them with water which also helps to remove the food.

Do not give milk, formula, juice or any sweet liquid to your baby when you put him in bed. Sweet liquids are fed on by the bacteria in the mouth which causes tooth decay.

Author Bio:

I am James David, A student of Medical Science. I have been experimenting the use of different medical products since 4 years and have enough knowledge on a lot of medical tools. I share my reviews on Top10bestlist.com