A Guide to Baby Dental Care
As a dedicated parent, you undoubtedly want to give your child the best of everything in life—including dental care. Even if no teeth have appeared yet, you still must pay careful attention to your child’s dental needs. Here’s a short guide to dental care for your baby.
Care for your baby’s gums carefully and regularly. Before the teeth start to erupt, make sure to keep the gums clean. After breast-feeding or bottle-feeding, wrap a clean, damp wash cloth around your finger and gently rub it across your baby’s gums, cleaning them of any food that may have been left behind.
When teeth arrive, it’s time to start brushing. Once your baby’s first tooth comes in, buy a baby toothbrush. You don’t need toothpaste until a few more teeth start to arrive; then, use only a little bit of fluoride-free toothpaste. If your child resists the brushing process, you may want to switch back to the wash cloth for a few months before trying again. Teething babies love to chew on baby toothbrushes with teethers as well.
Take your baby to the dentist. Around your baby’s first birthday, you should take him or her to the dentist for a checkup. This will give your dentist a chance to make sure everything is where it should be and detect any problems—the earlier, the better. Your dentist will also take the opportunity to give you guidance and pointers on caring for your baby’s dental health.
Set a good example. Show your children what responsible and diligent oral health care looks like by setting a good example. Eat healthy foods, avoid sugary drinks such as sodas, and brush and floss frequently and regularly. You child will likely follow suit.
Come to Redondo Beach Dental Group for your cosmetic dentistry needs. We also specialize in periodontal disease. If you’d like to make an appointment or have any questions to ask, please give our office a call at (310) 542-6988.
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