Parenting and Dental Care: 4 Tips for Promoting Your Baby's Oral Health

Your baby’s smile lights up your life. Keep that beautiful smile in top shape by caring for your little one’s mouth and teeth. Dental care from day one will help your baby grow up with a healthy and vibrant smile you can be proud of.

Newborns don’t yet have teeth, but that doesn’t mean that you can ignore their oral health. Every morning and every evening, you should dampen a soft cloth. Then, rub the cloth gently along your baby’s gums. Regularly wiping down the gums prevents the buildup of harmful bacteria. This will keep your infant’s mouth remain healthy—and be ready to welcome the first teeth!

Beginning around 6 months of age, your baby may start getting teeth. Once that happens, it’s time to begin daily tooth-brushing. Use a brush that has soft bristles and is appropriately sized for a baby’s little mouth. You can use fluoride toothpaste, but only a tiny amount until your child turns three. The dab should be about the size of a grain of rice.

Because many parents put their babies to bed with bottles of milk, young children often develop a condition called baby bottle tooth decay. The sugars in the milk cause damage to the teeth overnight, which can lead to permanent tooth decay. To avoid this problem, never put your baby to bed with a bottle or a sippy cup of milk. Allow only water in bed with your baby. Furthermore, never feed your infant juice, soda, or other sugary drinks, even during the daytime.

When it comes to your baby’s dental health, it’s smart to have a professional on your side. That’s why you should take your baby to his or her first dentist appointment by the first birthday. If your baby gets teeth rather late, you may be able to wait a little longer for the first trip to a dental office. However, you should definitely schedule an appointment within six months of your baby’s first tooth. At the initial visit, the dentist will examine your baby’s gums, jaw, teeth, and overall oral health. The staff will offer advice about caring for your baby’s mouth, and you can ask questions about oral health.

Parents and dentists can work together to keep a baby’s teeth healthy. By cleaning your child’s mouth and teeth, offering healthy drinks, and scheduling regular dental appointments, you’ll help your little one’s smile stay bright and beautiful.