Infant & Toddler Oral Care

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby! Are you prepared for the arrival of your baby's first tooth? Follow these guidelines and your baby will be on her way to a lifetime of healthy smiles!

Caring for Gums

Even before your baby's first tooth appears, her gums can benefit from your careful attention. After breast- or bottle-feeding, wrap one finger with a clean, damp washcloth or piece of gauze and gently rub it across your baby's gum tissue. This practice both clears your little one's mouth of any fragments of food and begins the process of building a good habit of daily oral care.

Baby's First Tooth

When that first tooth makes an entrance, it's time to upgrade to a baby toothbrush. There are usually two options: a long-handled toothbrush that you and your baby can hold at the same time, and a finger-puppet-like brush that fits over the tip of your pointer finger. In each case the bristles are soft and few.

At this stage, toothpaste isn't necessary; just dip the brush in water before brushing. If your little one doesn't react well to the introduction of a toothbrush, don't give up. Switch back to a damp washcloth for a few months, then try the toothbrush again. During the teething process your child will want to chew on just about anything and a baby toothbrush with a teether can become a favorite toy during this period.

Brushing with Toothpaste

When a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste with your child's brush. However, for the first two years, be sure to choose toothpaste that does not contain fluoride, unless advised to do so because too much fluoride ingested can be dangerous for youngsters. At this stage, use only a pea size amount of toothpaste. From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting the toothpaste out after brushing to prepare the child for fluoride toothpaste.

Avoiding Cavities

Diet can influence and play a significant role in a child's risk to develop cavities. Plaque acids form 20 minutes after the introduction of food or liquid in the mouth. Frequency and duration of foods can influence the development of plaque acids and cause subsequent decay. Some foods are stickier and are retained in grooves like raisins, fruit roll-ups, gummy bears and sugary cereals. The longer food is retained by the teeth, the longer the saliva can produce plaque acids, which dissolve enamel and create decay. Limiting the frequency and type of foods can decrease your child's risk to developing decay.

The AAPD guidelines state that infants should not be put to sleep with a bottle. The guidelines also recommend that if a child is breastfed, nighttime feedings should be avoided after the eruption of the first primary tooth. In the event that a bottle is used at night, it should contain only water. A cup should be introduced at 6 months of age and the child should be weaned from the bottle by 12 months of age. Parents should also limit the amount of snacks and beverages that are offered between meals.

First Visit to the Dentist

It's recommended that you bring your baby in for a visit within six months of the first tooth's eruption - usually around her first birthday. Since decay can occur in even the smallest of teeth, the earlier your baby visits us, the more likely she is to avoid problems. We'll look for any signs of early problems with your baby's oral heath, and check in with you about the best way to care for her teeth. Remember that preparing for each dental visit with a positive attitude goes a long way toward making your child comfortable with regular checkups.

Setting a Good Example

As part of the natural learning process, little ones are expert mimics, and you can take advantage of this talent. Brush and floss daily while your child is watching, and she'll intuit at an early age the importance of your good habits. As soon as she shows interest, give her a toothbrush of her own and encourage her to "brush" with you. (You'll find toothbrushes with chunky, short handles that are easy for her to grip.) Most children don't have the dexterity necessary to thoroughly clean their own teeth until they're about six or seven, so you'll have to do that part of the job for her. Try different tactics to make brushing fun: flavored toothpaste, a toothbrush with a favorite character on it, or singing songs about brushing. The primary goal is to instill healthy oral habits at an early age to set your child up for a lifetime of healthy, cavity-free teeth!