Oral Care in Infants

Are you prepared for the arrival of your baby’s first tooth?

There is so much involved in caring for your baby. From head to toe, your baby is counting on you to help keep them healthy. Caring for your baby’s mouth from the earliest months is important. Even though their first teeth are not permanent, caring for them is important in maintaining good health and setting the foundation for long-term good oral hygiene.

Even though you can’t see them yet, did you know that your baby’s first set of teeth are nearly formed at birth? It’s true! These little teeth are hiding just below the gums.

Teething

Teething, the process of baby teeth coming through the gums into the mouth, is variable among individual babies. Some babies get their teeth early and some get them late. In general, the first baby teeth to appear are the lower front teeth, and they usually begin erupting between the ages of 6-8 months.

A teething baby can be miserable. Drooling, crankiness, and often a mild temperature can result from your baby’s newly erupting teeth.  It can be a hardship for both the parents and the baby. Follow these guidelines, and your baby will be on her way to a lifetime of healthy smiles!

Preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.

Tooth decay in infants can be minimized (or even totally prevented) by not allowing sleeping infants to breast or bottle-feed. Infants that need a bottle to comfortably fall asleep should be given a water-filled bottle or a pacifier.  What’s important is to minimize the amount of time the bottle is in the mouth.

Caring for Gums

After each breast- or bottle-feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth, or gauze pad, to remove plaque. The easiest way to do this is to sit down and place the child’s head in your lap, or lay the child on a dressing table or the floor. Whatever position you use, be sure you can see into the child’s mouth easily.

The first few times, since this is a new experience to your baby, be sure to talk to them about what you are doing and use a gentle touch. Experts recommend cleaning your baby’s mouth at least twice a day.

Baby’s First Tooth

With your child’s first tooth, it is a great time to introduce the use of a soft-bristled, child-sized toothbrush. Continue using warm water only – no toothpaste – to clean your baby’s teeth. If your little one doesn’t react well to the introduction of a toothbrush, don’t 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 soft bristles will avoid injury your baby’s gums. Avoid having your child walk around with a toothbrush in his mouth to prevent injuries.

When a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste with your child’s brush. At this stage, use only a tiny amount of fluoridated toothpaste. From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting the toothpaste out after brushing, which should not be swallowed at any age. Try different tactics to make brushing fun: flavoured toothpaste, a toothbrush with a favourite character on it, and singing songs about brushing.

Sippers should be used as a training tool from the bottle to a cup, and should be discontinued by the first birthday. If your child uses a sipper cup throughout the day, fill it with water only (except at mealtimes). By filling the sipper cup with liquids that contain sugar (including milk, fruit juice, sports drinks, etc.), and allowing a child to drink from it throughout the day, it soaks the child’s teeth in cavity causing bacteria.

First Visit to the Dentist

It’s 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 dentist, the more likely she is to avoid problems.

Set a Good Example

As part of the natural learning process, since little ones are expert mimics, you can take advantage of their talent for imitating your every move. Brush and floss daily while your child is watching, and she’ll intuit, at an early age, the importance of your good habits. The primary goal is to instil healthy oral habits at an early age to set your child up for a lifetime of healthy, cavity-free teeth!