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What Every Parent Needs to Know About Baby Teeth
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The arrival of the baby is the most exuberant part of a parent’s life. Holding your bundle of joy for the first time is a magical feeling and it brings out your protective instinct. From maintaining cleaning to feeding them and keeping them safe, parents do everything to give their babies a healthy and happy childhood.

While most parents are particular about bathing and cleaning their babies, they often neglect the teeth because they lack knowledge on this subject. It is a misconception that babies do not require an oral care routine.

According to best Hope Island dentist, baby teeth are more prone to decay if they are not cleaned properly. Thus, here is everything you need to know about baby teeth and their cleaning regimen.

Facts About Baby Teeth

Newborns have 20 primary teeth underneath the gums that start erupting from six months onwards. The timeline differs for every baby, so there is no need to worry if the baby hasn’t started teething even at seven months.

Baby teeth can keep erupting until three years, and the teething period can make the infants cranky as their gums become sore. The first teeth to appear are the bottom front teeth called incisors, and the oral care regimen should start before their appearance. Let us understand how parents should maintain their baby’s oral hygiene.

1. Oral Care Before Teeth Eruption

Parents should start cleaning their baby’s mouths as soon as they bring them home. Until the primary teeth appear, they must use a washcloth to wipe their gums.

It is good to remove any milk residue from the gums that can accumulate and cause decay. You can clean their gums before putting them to sleep at night or after feeding them.

2. Teething Problems

Teething occurs between six to twelve months of age and can be accompanied by swollen gums and irritable behaviour. To comfort your little one, you can clean your hands thoroughly and then use your fingers to massage their gums gently.

Teething also makes babies want to bite and chew more. Thus, you can give them a teether to feel at ease. However, you need to clean them often and they should be BPA-free to avoid any health concerns.

3. First Visit to the Dentist

Visiting a dentist must begin as soon as the first tooth appears. The practitioner will help you understand the teething process and how to clean baby teeth with the right products.

They will ensure that the jaw is developing in the proper manner and will check the alignment of the teeth when permanent teeth start appearing.

It is also essential to visit the dentist to identify signs of decay and get them eliminated. Also, the child will not face any problems related to speech and development of the jaw when they get expert guidance and support.

4. When to Start Brushing?

Brushing should start when the first teeth appear. Use a soft baby brush and a dot (rice grain-sized) of fluoride toothpaste for babies to gently brush their teeth.

The bristles should not be frayed, and there should not be more than three rows of bristles. Make sure to change the toothbrush after three months.

The amount of toothpaste can be increased to the size of a pea when the baby becomes three years old. They must develop the habit of brushing twice daily and must include flossing to remove the remnants of food.

5. Pay Attention to their Diet

Eating a wholesome and balanced diet is vital for the development of healthy teeth. After you have introduced solid foods, you must give them fresh fruits and vegetables to chew and enjoy. They must also get their daily intake of milk and grains and stay away from junk and sugary foods.

Do not give them too many citric fruits during the day, such as lemons, grapefruits, oranges, lime, etc. The high level of citric acid in the mouth can erode the tooth enamel and lead to caries. Thus, give them fruits that are more alkaline, such as bananas, avocados, and melons.

6. Avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby bottle tooth decay usually affects the front teeth if the baby is often made to sleep with the bottle in the mouth or the bottle is thrust in their mouths every time they cry or have a meltdown.

It can be avoided if the bottle is removed before they go to sleep, and the pacifier is cleaned thoroughly every time it is put in their mouths. Also, after the age of one, the child should be given a sippy cup to drink water. Avoid any sugary drinks or packed juices for a healthy mouth.

7. Supervise Tooth Cleaning

Teach your child to brush the right way by holding the brush at a 45-degree angle towards the gumline. The brush must be moved gently over all the surfaces without hurting the gums.

You must monitor them until the age of eight while brushing and flossing to correct them and check if they rinse and clean their mouth perfectly.

Conclusion

Primary teeth are as precious as permanent teeth and should not be taken for granted. Visit your dentist in Hope Island to understand the proper oral care techniques for babies and get their teeth examined regularly for healthy growth.