Caring For Your Infant’s Teeth

Baby teeth are an important part of building a solid and healthy foundation for good oral hygiene that will last throughout your child’s life. You should begin caring for your baby’s mouth before his or her teeth even begin to grow in. This includes wiping the gums with a warm damp cloth wrapped around your finger. This is important to do after every feeding in order to rub off excess milk or formula, which could cause bacteria buildup in your baby’s mouth.

Once your child begins teething, you should start caring for the tiny teeth immediately. The baby teeth are crucial to preserving space for the permanent teeth to fit into later. If you don’t care for them properly they can form decay, which can cause an infection in the gums, called gingivitis. Any damage done to baby teeth (also called primary teeth), can have a negative impact on the spacing of their permanent teeth later on in life.

There are few ways to make sure you’re taking care of your toddler’s teeth. It’s important to follow your child’s meals with water, as most baby foods will easily rinse off of the teeth with just a drink of water. Even so, it’s also important to begin brushing your baby’s teeth with a soft toothbrush. Not only will keep the teeth and mouth clean and healthy, but it will acclimate your child to dental care early. This will decrease the chances of your child fighting your oral health efforts later on.

The American Dental Association has recommended that your child visit the dentist either by the eruption of their first tooth, or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. To schedule an appointment with our gentle and friendly pediatric dentist, Dr. Matthew Brady, please contact Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry, located in Parker, CO.