How To Care For Your Infant's Oral Health

You may not consider your infant's oral health a priority. After all, babies aren’t born with teeth. But within a few months you’ll see their first tooth erupt! And soon after that, a second, third, and so on. By age 3, your child will have a set of 20 baby (primary) teeth. Although these teeth naturally fall out during childhood, they serve an important purpose. Primary teeth hold the space for permanent teeth and, therefore, pave the way to good oral health in the future.

So now that you understand a good oral hygiene routine is a priority starting from infancy, here’s how you can properly care for your child’s teeth from birth to age 3 to ensure a healthy smile!

• Before Teeth Emerge
  Your baby won’t have teeth for about six months. However, you can still clean your baby’s mouth after every feeding by wiping their gums with a clean cloth or gauze. Some parents wait until the first tooth appears but cleaning your child’s mouth after feedings now will get you in the habit of taking care of their teeth later on!
• Once Baby Teeth Emerge
  Babies reach milestones at different times. This is true for teeth too. The first tooth can erupt anytime between two months and one year, but 6 months is typical. Once your child’s first tooth appears, start brushing it with a soft toothbrush and very small amount of toothpaste, no bigger than a grain of rice. Be gentle!
• When Your Baby Has Two Teeth That Touch
  When your child has two adjacent teeth, you can begin flossing. The first teeth to emerge are usually the lower central incisors, which come in at the centre of the front lower jaw. Gently floss between your baby’s teeth forming floss into a “C” shape around each tooth, and be careful not to hurt the gumline. Flossing will help remove plaque from between the teeth to prevent tooth decay and gum disease!

The Canadian Dental Association recommends children have an oral health assessment by a dentist after the first tooth erupts or by the first birthday. Book an appointment with My Care Dental today! We’ve been proudly serving clients in Niagara Falls, Ontario, for four decades.