Dental Care Tips and Checklist for Babies
- Oral care for your baby begins as a newborn, long before they get their first teeth.
- After each bottle or breastfeeding, gently wipe your baby’s gums with a clean cloth that has been moistened with lukewarm water. This practice keeps their gums healthy and helps to prevent bacteria build-up.
- Never put your baby to bed with a bottle. This habit promotes tooth decay and gum disease.
- Teething begins at about four to six months old. Use a cool, damp cloth or a clean teething ring to help relieve discomfort from teething.
- Your baby’s first teeth will appear at about six months old. Caring for these teeth is crucial. Use a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a single rice grain), and gently brush your baby’s teeth after each feeding.
- You can begin gently flossing your child’s teeth once they have at least two teeth adjacent to each other.
- Once your child is weaned from breast milk or formula after age one, be sure they drink plenty of water. If you don’t have fluoridated drinking water, talk with your Pediatric Dental Specialists of Greater Nebraska dentist about fluoride treatment options.
- The American Dental Association recommends that all children see a dentist by the time they reach one year of age.
- When your child is two years old, it’s time to start teaching them to brush their own teeth. Supervise them each time they brush to make certain they do a thorough job and don’t swallow their toothpaste.
- Once your child turns three, you can increase the amount of toothpaste to the size of a pea. Make sure you still supervise them when they brush so they don’t swallow too much toothpaste.
- Limit the amount of fruit juice your young child drinks, and avoid soda altogether. Once a child stops breastfeeding, water is always the best drink for their health and teeth.
- Children should be supervised when they brush until about six years of age.
- Let your dentist know if your child has special needs so they can work with your child’s pediatrician to better plan their care.
- For any questions or concerns, contact the team at Pediatric Dental Specialists of Greater Nebraska.