Infant Dental Care
It’s hard to believe that even before a single tooth appears in a child’s mouth, there are things that parents need to know about dental care. It is never too early to bring your baby along on your visit to the dentist. The child’s progress can quickly be assessed and he/she will become comfortable in a dental setting before they may need treatment.
It is usually recommended that an infant visit the dentist six months after the first tooth is visible or at one year if that is sooner. “Baby teeth” or primary teeth, the front ones, are used by the child for about 5-7 years before they are replaced by permanent teeth. Primary molar teeth, toward the back of the month, are used until about 11-13 years of age. Over those years, they serve many important functions. Teeth, “baby” or “adult” are important for chewing, speaking, supporting facial features, and smiling-an important part of social interactions. Primary teeth have the additional job of holding space so the permanent teeth can have room to erupt.
Important preventive care can take place even before that. So what should you know about caring for your new baby’s mouth. In the early months use a damp washcloth or piece of gauze to gently rub your infant’s gums. This will clean the formula/breast milk residue and help establish the routine of daily oral care. Continue using the damp washcloth or gauze as the baby is teething. Your dentist and/or dental hygienist will then guide you on the transition to using a toothbrush.
Equally important is to establish good eating habits. Never put sugary drinks such as sodas, Kool-aid, or tea in baby’s bottle. Use the bottle only for formula, milk, or water. Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of anything other than water. Your baby can begin drinking from a cup at age 6-8 months. Fruit juices should be real juice (100% juice on the label), not juice beverages, such as Hawaiian Punch or Hi-C. Overall juice consumption should be limited to 4oz per day and preferably at mealtime.
The frequency of visits to the dentist for your child will be determined by your dentist and dental hygienist. This will be based on such factors as home care, diet, fluoride availability and use, and history of decay.
Early care will affect life-long habits of dental care and contribute to your child’s overall good health.