Dental Cleaning: How to Care for Your Child’s Teeth
DISCUSSION POINTS Cleaning Your Baby’s Gums Brushing Fluoride Toothpaste Keep Your Baby’s Items Clean Check Out for Signs of Tooth Decay Drinking-Water Encourage Brushing
CLEANING YOUR BABY’S GUMS You can do this by wiping your baby’s gums using a clean damp cloth or gauze. Do this twice each day or after feedings. As you do this, ensure that you position the baby in a way that will give you a clear view of inside the mouth then clean using soft circular motions.
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Even before your baby’s teeth can begin to erupt, you can start caring for their mouth by cleaning it.
BRUSHING
Children are at risk of tooth decay as soon as the first tooth appears. This can ruin your baby’s milk teeth as well as the permanent teeth lying underneath. As such, immediately your baby’s teeth start to come out, you can start using a toothbrush to clean their teeth in the morning and at night before bedtime. You can start by just wetting the toothbrush then move on to using a smear of toothpaste after a while. As your child progresses to around 3 years of age, you can increase this amount to that of a ‘pea-size’.
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FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE Fluoride is a cheap and effective way of preventing tooth decay.
As a result, it is recommended that you use fluoride toothpaste to brush your child’s teeth. As not all kinds of toothpaste contain fluoride, it is important that you check as you buy.
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It does this by strengthening the tooth enamel to make it more resistant to tooth decay.
KEEP YOUR BABY’S ITEMS CLEAN
Dirt and bacteria can also be introduced into your baby’s mouth by the items that they put in their mouth. You should, therefore, keep their personal items such as pacifiers and feeding bottles clean at all times. You should also throw away bottle nipples once they start to crack as dirt can hide in these crevices. You should also refrain from licking these items to clean them as you can transfer bacteria from your mouth and into theirs. Toothbrushes can also harbor bacteria requiring you to keep it clean by rinsing it well after use.
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CHECK OUT FOR SIGNS OF TOOTH DECAY
Due to this, as you clean your baby’s teeth, you should make a point checking the mouth for anything unusual that might indicate tooth decay. This can be in the form of white or brown spots or when your child starts to experience tooth pain. Of course, the most guaranteed way of catching tooth decay early is by taking your baby for regular dental checkups. Nonetheless, being vigilant will also be helpful.
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Tooth decay can be sneaky and it can start developing in your baby’s mouth without you realizing.
DRINKING-WATER
Water is good for your baby’s overall health. It is, in the same way, beneficial to their oral health as it will help keep the mouth nourished. Drinking water after meals can also help to wash away some food particles and acids left in the mouth. Also, if the water supply to your home is fluoridated, drinking this water will provide the benefit of strengthened teeth that are less prone to attacks by decaycausing acids.
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ENCOURAGE BRUSHING Your baby may not like the idea of having their teeth brushed. Therefore, you should try and make it fun for them.
Letting them pick out a toothbrush with playful colors and designs may also be enticing for them. Leading by example is also a great way to encourage your child to brush their teeth.
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You can use distractions such as having a sing-along song playing in the background or allowing them to play with a toy.
DR. ERIN LOVES THE ABILITY TO TREAT CHILDREN’S DENTAL NEEDS WHILE DEVELOPING A BOND OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE WITH THEM. SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT OVERCOMING DENTAL ANXIETY CAN BE A LIFE LONG REWARD.
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