Practical Tips for Keeping Baby’s Teeth Healthy
According to most pediatricians, maintaining baby's oral health early is very important for establishing good dental habits later on. Once the teeth begin coming in, start taking care of them right away. Many parents think baby teeth aren't important because they're eventually replaced by permanent ones. But these first teeth preserve the spacing for the permanent ones and help Baby chew and talk. If they're not cared for properly they can decay, leading to a gum infection called gingivitis, which can affect the spacing of permanent teeth. Here are some tips for keeping baby's teeth clean:1. Start cleaning your child's mouth even before her teeth come in. Wipe the gums off after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger.
2. The first signs of cavities in baby teeth are discoloration and minor pitting. Putting Baby to bed with a bottle of milk (or worse, juice) is notorious for causing cavities. Don't leave your infant with a bottle for long periods of time, especially if you notice he's no longer feeding and is just using the bottle for comfort.
3. Most infant foods easily wash off Baby's teeth with just a drink of water after meals. But it's good to introduce a toothbrush as soon as possible, so baby can get used to having it in his mouth. You probably won't need to use the brush to actually clean Baby's teeth until he's eating only table foods (and has a significant number of teeth), at around 18 months. However, you'll want to gently clean your child's teeth with a toothbrush and some bicarbonate of soda if your toddler has eaten sticky, sugary foods.
4. Begin using a pea-size amount of non-fluoride toothpaste once Baby is about 2. Wait until at least 3, when your child is old enough not to swallow the toothpaste, before introducing the fluoride kind.
5.The American Dental Association recommends that Baby get his first dental exam at age 1, but most pediatricians agree that the first visit can wait until age 3, as long as you practice good home care.
MyRaZbaby is proud to offer our Raz Silicone Toothbrush, available in four colors, that are specially-designed for safeguarding your little one's health. For more information on our Innovative Baby Products, contact us by calling 1(877) 298-6622.