If you’ve got a newborn or an infant, dental care is probably the furthest thing from your mind. But it’s good to start planning early, so that you can make sure your baby has the best possible oral hygiene, and avoids potential childhood dental issues. Here’s what you need to know!
You Should Start Cleaning The Teeth Of Your Child As Soon As They Begin Erupting
The teething process usually starts at around 6 months of age, and concludes at the age of 3. This is when you should begin brushing your child’s teeth.
Using a baby toothbrush and either water or a non-fluoride toothpaste, gently scrub all erupted teeth after every meal, and use a moist cloth to wipe down the gums and remove food particles that may still remain.
You should continue doing this until about the age of 2, when your child begins to understand how to spit out toothpaste. Then, switch to a specially-formulated children's’ toothpaste that includes fluoride. This will help protect the teeth.
Your child can brush their own teeth around the age of 6 – or whenever they have enough dexterity to tie their own shoes. However, you should still monitor their brushing habits, to ensure they are using proper technique.
Your Child Should See A Dentist As Soon As They Get Their First Tooth
It’s best to see a pediatric dentist when your child reaches 6 months of age, or whenever their first tooth begins to emerge. And if you are ever concerned about your child’s oral health, or they suffer an oral injury, take them to the dentist immediately.
Seeing a dentist at a very young age has a number of benefits:
It familiarizes your baby with dentist offices, making them more comfortable with oral care
Your dentist can quickly identify any potential oral health issues and mitigate them before they become severe
Your dentist can track the development of your child’s teeth over time with x-rays, oral photography, and more, to detect potential future oral health problems
For these reasons, and quite a few more, you should start bringing your child to the dentist as soon as they have teeth!
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand how to take care of your child’s teeth, and get a better idea of the care steps you’ll need to take during their childhood!