February is National Children’s Dental Heath Month. For first time parents, it can be intimidating to manage your infant’s dental hygiene. You have to determine when to take them to the dentist, how to care for their baby teeth, and how to protect them from decay and cavities. The best way to deal with your dental worries is to get informed. Check out these tips for helping your baby avoid tooth decay and get on the right path to a lifetime of exceptional dental hygiene.
Dental hygiene timeline
Even before your little one gets his or her first baby tooth, you can start getting them used to taking care of their mouth. After feeding, you should use gauze or a clean washcloth and warm water to clean your baby’s gums. This is not only beneficial for the health of their mouth, but it also gets them used to the general feel of tooth brushing.
Once the first tooth appears on the scene, you should use a wet toothbrush or the same washcloth technique to keep it healthy. Six months after the tooth emerges, head to the dentist for you infant’s first visit. These visits are usually brief and are more of an introduction than a full cleaning. Your dentist can advise you on how to continue with your little one’s oral care needs.
Tooth care tips for your child
- Never let your child go to bed with a bottle. This promotes sucking, which can be bad for the alignment of your child’s teeth and it exposes their teeth to excess sugars.
- Limit drinks other than water to meal times. This will cut down on the amount of sugary juices your little one consumes. It will also help cut down on sucking habits that can be damaging to teeth.
- Teach your child to drink from a cup instead of a bottle as soon as you can. Bottles allow liquid to collect around teeth, while cups help prevent this.
- If your water isn’t properly fluorinated, check with your dentist about fluoride supplements. These can make a major difference in protecting your child’s teeth from decay.
- Cut sugary treats like candy down to special occasions. This way, they will be less likely to develop a sweet tooth. You should also cut down on sneaky foods like raisins, fruit leather, and gummy vitamins that seem healthy but are secretly full of sugar and extremely sticky.
If you want to learn more about Family Dentistry from your Annapolis Dentist or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please contact Annapolis Family Dental Care by calling (410) 267-0766 or visit AnnapolisDentalCare.com today! Our diligent knowledge of all dental treatments and extensive experience in all fields of dentistry, ensure Annapolis Dental is best suited to care for your oral health. You can also follow Annapolis Dental Care on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.