Even if maintaining your baby’s oral hygiene is a difficult undertaking, you shouldn’t undervalue it. Ignoring a newborn’s oral health can lead to a host of unanticipated dental issues, like early tooth decay or gum infection.
Discover essential oral hygiene tips for newborns, infants, and toddlers. Learn how to care for your child’s dental health from the start with expert advice on brushing, teething relief, and more in this detailed article.
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Importance of Oral Hygiene in Babies
Providing good dental care from an early age is crucial for an infant’s overall growth and well-being for many reasons, some of which are as follows:
- Cavities prevention: Practicing proper oral hygiene in babies and toddlers can help prevent cavities and gum disease later on by laying the foundation for healthy teeth and gums.
- Maintain Oral Health: Dental care for babies is crucial to preserving long-term oral health, despite the fact that it is commonly ignored.
- Early Diagnosis: With regular examinations, a pediatric dentist can track a child’s tooth development and spot any potential issues early.
In addition to learning about suggested oral hygiene habits for their child, parents can also learn about the need to avoid sugary foods and beverages and how to wash their teeth properly during these appointments.
Dental Decay
When teeth are not taken care of, they might develop cavities or tooth decay. Plaque is the cause of cavities. A dangerous film of bacteria called plaque builds up on teeth. The bacteria create acids when your youngster consumes sugar-containing food or medications.
Cavities develop in teeth as a result of these acids’ damage. Compared to adult teeth, infant teeth experience cavities more quickly.
Tips For Maintaining Oral Hygiene in Babies
For newborns to one-year-old infants and toddlers, the following advice on dental hygiene should be followed:
1. For 0–6 months of Age
Oral health in neonates starts even before the first tooth erupts. From birth, it’s critical to take care of your child’s teeth and oral health.
For newborns to three-six months old, the following advice should be followed:
- Scrubbing Brushes:
Use a fresh, wet washcloth or gauze pad to gently cleanse your baby’s gums after every meal. This will help keep the gums clean and aid in the removal of microorganisms.
- Avoiding Bedtime Bottles:
To prevent teeth rot from prolonged liquid exposure, do not put your infant to sleep with a bottle
Refrain from giving your infant a bottle of juice, milk, formula, or sweetened beverage before bed. Even before teeth erupt, this can cause tooth decay.
- Watch Teething:
Keep an eye out for symptoms of teething, like increased drooling or agitation. Give your kid a clean, cool teething ring or a cold towel to gnaw on to help with gum retraction.
Teething often starts in infants between the ages of four and six months. Saliva production may rise, and his or her gums may be red and swollen.
Give your baby a cold, wet washcloth or a clean teething ring to soothe your infant. You might wish to refrigerate the teething ring because cold temperatures are calming.
- Meal Routines:
When nursing, make sure your latch is correct to avoid damaging your nipples, which can result in mouth infections. If you use bottles, make sure to properly clean them after every use to stop the formation of bacteria.
- Consistent Exams:
Regular doctor appointments can include oral health screenings to track growth and development, even if dental visits might not be necessary just yet.
2. For 6–12 Months of Age:
Your infant will erupt his or her first tooth between the ages of six and eight months. It is crucial to take good care of his or her teeth from the beginning.
The following advice relates to dental hygiene for infants aged six to twelve months:
- First Teeth Brushing:
Use a soft-bristled baby toothbrush to clean your baby’s first tooth as soon as it erupts. Brush twice a day to maintain good oral hygiene
- Toothpaste:
When your infant is six months old, you can begin cleaning their teeth with a smear of fluoride toothpaste, around the size of a grain of rice. Use toothpaste meant for little children only.
- Good Eating Habits:
Limit beverages and foods high in sugar. Give your baby nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables instead of sugary snacks or liquids.
- Care for Teething:
When your baby is teething, give them a clean, cool teething ring or cold washcloth to gnaw on to help with gum sensitivity. Refrain from using teething gels or tablets unless advised by a medical professional.
- Initial Dental Appointment:
Give attention to how your child’s teeth and gums should normally look. Lift your child’s lips frequently to look for any suspiciously small brown or white patches on their teeth.
By the child’s first birthday or within six months of the first tooth erupting, make an appointment for your infant to see a dentist. It’s critical to have routine dental exams to track the development and health of your mouth.
- Avoid bedtime bottles:
Never put your baby to sleep with a bottle full of milk, formula, juice, or any sweetened beverage since this could lead to tooth decay.
As soon as your baby starts eating more solid foods and drinking from a cup, you should start weaning them off of the bottle. Start by offering a cup of juice or water.
By the time they are 12 or 14 months old, most kids can sip from a cup. Don’t let your child stroll about holding a bottle.
3. 12 to 18 months of age:
Your child should receive an oral examination by a dentist by the time they are one year old.
Here are some tips for oral hygiene for infants from 12 to 18 months of age:
- Brushing Routine:
Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice). Brush in gentle, circular motions to clean the teeth and gums effectively.
- Teaching Spitting:
Encourage your baby to spit out the toothpaste after brushing. While they may not master this skill immediately, it’s important to start teaching the habit early.
- Observe Healthy Eating Habits:
Offer a balanced diet with limited sugary snacks and drinks. Avoid giving your baby sugary beverages, and opt for water or milk instead.
- First Dental Visit:
Plan your child’s first dentist appointment around their first birthday if you haven’t already done so. Regular dental check-ups help monitor oral health and catch any potential issues early.
- Supervised Brushing:
Always supervise your baby while brushing to ensure they are brushing properly and not swallowing toothpaste. Until they can brush efficiently on their own, keep helping them.
- Nighttime Routine:
Avoid giving your baby a bottle at bedtime, especially with anything other than water. Milk, juice, or other liquids can pool in the mouth and lead to tooth decay.
How to Brush Your Child’s Dental Teeth
Clean your child’s mouth after each feeding or at least twice a day, or, both before and after the teeth erupt. Use a pea-sized amount after the age of three. It ought to be easy for you to see into their mouth.
- Use a small, soft toothbrush as soon as your child’s teeth erupt.
- Arrange the toothbrush’s bristles at an angle against the gum line and along a row of teeth.
- Use light circular strokes when brushing (Gum and tooth damage might result from back-and-forth brushing)
- Finally, use the toothbrush to brush your tongue. And then rinse off the mouth.
Bottom Line
Maintaining good oral hygiene practices is essential for your infant’s general health and long-term dental health. Early dental care practices, such as brushing their gums, giving them a baby toothbrush and fluoride paste, and scheduling routine checkups, help prevent potential dental issues down the road and promote a healthy smile.
Therefore, taking preventive steps will guarantee that your child has a solid foundation for dental health, which will lead to lifelong good oral hygiene habits.
But keep in mind that taking good care of a baby’s oral health involves more than just preventing cavities. Rather, the focus should be on developing good oral habits that will support their overall development.
FAQS
How to do infant oral care?
Use a baby toothbrush or a fresh, moist washcloth to wipe away harmful bacteria from their gums every day.
When is the right time to start giving my infant oral hygiene?
Your child’s jaws already include baby teeth from birth. According to dentists, dental and gum care should start even before a newborn tooth erupts.
For a 3-month-old baby, which dental hygiene technique is best?
Use a moist washcloth or gauze pad to clean an infant’s gums after every meal. Never let a baby nurse “at will” or place a bottle in their mouth.
Is toothpaste safe for a three-month-old?
Because they don’t have teeth, children under six months shouldn’t use fluoride toothpaste. All youngsters should use fluoride toothpaste as soon as their first tooth erupts.