Infant Oral Care
Almost everyone would have observed how vigilant parents become when they have a baby. They would try to give the best of everything to the infant right from healthy food, toys, regular body checkup, regular medicines, and what not. But parents must understand that besides all these, it is very important to ensure that you are taking good care of the oral hygiene of the baby.Well, it is obvious that you might bewondering that the infant does not have any teeth right now, so how to take care of oral hygiene.
Maintaining oral health does not mean that you have to focus just on the teeth, you must clean the gums in order to prevent any sort of cavities in the future. You need to get your child used to having the mouth cleaned regularly. According to a recent survey, it was reported that almost 40% of the kids suffer from tooth decay. So parents must understand that when it comes to maintaining the oral hygiene of their baby, a bit of effort would take them a long way.Here are some tips that you can embrace to improve the oral health of your infant.
Take Care Of Your Infant During The Teething Stage
Basically, the baby teeth develop when the baby is still in the mother’s womb properly protected. But they are hidden beneath the gums for almost 6 to 8 months. And then they start to surface. During this stage, the infants start feeling the pain and rub their gums together.
There are some signs that will help you to understand that your baby is teething: The baby cries too much and becomes cranky They don’t digest the food (mother’ milk) properly. They find it interesting to suck on different objects.
You should clean the gums of your baby regularly. It will help them feel better when the teeth try to come out. It helps the baby to get relief from the pain. Moreover, you must take your infant to a dentist's visit, they would help you to know how to deal with the infants when they are teething.
The First Three Months Are Very Important:
You won’t see the baby teeth surfacing till the first three to four months. So how would you clean your baby mouth? Don’t panic, it is very easy. You just have to get a soft cloth and soak it in the lukewarm water and then clean the baby’s gums. It will help the gums to be free of bacterias and also keep them strong. You can clean the gums several times in a day or just after the feedings.
When the baby is 1 to 2 years old: At this stage, the baby would have already had several teeth popped up in the gums. So you need to get a baby brush with soft bristles and fluoride toothpaste. Inculcate a habit of cleaning the teeth every day or even twice a day.
Always ensure that you must put a small dab of the toothpaste as the kids won’t rinse the mouth properly during the initial stages. So the chances are that they might swallow the toothpaste. Moreover, the reason for choosing a baby fluoride toothpaste is somewhat similar. It is harmless for the babies.
When To Consult The Pediatric Dentists?
You can take your infant to the dentist every six months. The first visit should be when the baby teeth start popping out of the gums. During this stage, the baby would be in the most vulnerable stage and you would need the dentist’s advice to maintain your baby’s oral health.
Summary When it comes to your infant’s oral health, always consider consulting a pediatric dentist. They are specially trained in the care of a child's mouth. When you take your baby to the dental visit for the first time, it is a good opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have. They will suggest the best ways to take care of your baby and also give you some tips to maintain the oral health of the baby. You must understand that your baby’s oral care is just the beginning of a lifelong habit of good oral hygiene.