Infant Oral Care begins the moment your baby arrives at home and you need to care for his or her mouth and gums. Infant Oral Care should begin even before the baby’s teeth erupt, in order to keep him happy and healthy. It can seem overwhelming to parents new to caring for their baby’s teeth and gums, especially since they have so many other responsibilities. In addition, there are many tips that you can follow to ensure your baby’s oral health remains impeccable. Here are the top 5 tips by our Las Vegas Pediatric Dentist to keep your infant’s mouth healthy.
1. In infant oral care, babies should not sleep with bottles
The baby may fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth if you put them to sleep with a bottle. Due to this, the teeth are exposed to the milk or other liquid in the bottle for a prolonged period. Plaque may form on the teeth if this liquid is left to accumulate around the teeth. A child who sleeps with a bottle regularly may develop cavities on their teeth due to tooth decay. These cavities are commonly known as “baby bottle decay”.
The most common teeth affected by baby bottle decay are the front teeth. There can also be visible signs of decay, such as black or brown spots on the tooth, or swollen gums. If your baby shows any of these symptoms, make sure you get them the proper Infant oral Hygiene right away.
It’s a good thing that baby bottle decay can be avoided completely. Make sure you don’t put your child to sleep with a bottle to protect their teeth. Feed them at night, and hold them while they drink. Remove the bottle when they are finished. Limiting the teeth’s exposure to the liquid can help reduce plaque buildup.
2. Baby Oral Care: Clean the Gums and Teeth
You can take Infant Oral Care steps to ensure your baby’s mouth and gums are healthy even before their first teeth erupt. Wipe down the gums of your baby after eating with a warm, wet washcloth or a damp piece of gauze around your finger.
When your baby’s teeth begin to appear, be sure to start caring for them right away. When your baby is around 6 months old, he or she usually begins to show teeth. Your baby’s first teeth can be cleaned with a warm, wet washcloth or with a soft-bristled toothbrush and water. Plaque build-up leads to dental decay, so it’s important to avoid it. Clean their gums as well.
When brushing your baby’s teeth, use a pea-sized amount of low-fluoride toothpaste after 18 months. Spitting out toothpaste is okay, but rinsing it shouldn’t be done.
3. Schedule your baby’s dental appointment on time
Most children do not visit a dentist for the first time until they are at least two years old. This may seem like a long time to wait, but it is earlier than most dentists suggest. Infants should have their first dental appointment within six months of the eruption of their first tooth or before their first birthday, whichever is later.
During the first visit to your infant’s dentist, you’ll learn about caring for their teeth and your dentist will answer your questions.
As soon as the baby’s teeth come in, it is beneficial to schedule regular dental checkups for their Infant’s Oral Care. This way, any emerging issues will be caught early. When detected early, these problems can be prevented from causing lasting damage to your child’s teeth.
4. Provide healthy drinks and foods for the Infant’s Oral Care
In addition to dental care, the diet of infants is also very important. Having a healthy, balanced diet is essential to maintaining good dental health. Around 6 months of age, babies can start eating solid food, and they can eat a wide variety of foods, similar to what you and the rest of your family consume. Your child’s dental health can be improved by making the right snack choices. Sticky or chewy foods can cause plaque buildup on teeth. Starchy refined foods like white bread or potato chips can also harm your teeth.
Fruit juice is often considered to be a healthier alternative than sugary drinks for young children. Sugar is usually added to fruit juice, however. Natural sugars from fruits are still present in juice without sugar. Children under the age of 12 months should avoid fruit juice, and even older children should be cautious. A child’s teeth can become a breeding ground for bacteria that cause cavities when sugar is left on them. Keep them hydrated with milk or water.
5. Exhibit good oral hygiene for Infants
In growing up, your baby will follow the example that you, as a parent, set. Thus, maintaining good oral hygiene is important for everyone in your family. Show your children the importance of good oral hygiene by being an excellent role model. Make sure that both you and your child brush and floss their teeth twice a day. When a child observes that you do not brush your teeth, he or she will begin to believe that such behavior is acceptable.
After you develop a plan of action, Infant Oral hygiene will become as natural as taking care of your own teeth. A systematic effort to care for your baby’s new teeth will help set them up for a lifetime of healthy teeth. Make sure to schedule your infant’s first dental appointment in a timely manner — within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth or by the time they reach one year old. To schedule an appointment, call The kid’s dentist in las vegas