The Importance Of Preventive Dental Care At Any Age

Posted on: 12 September 2019

If you have a baby, you know that keeping them healthy is a full-time job. Not only do you need to worry about their physical health and development; you also have to worry about their dental health and development. However, you might not realize that proper dental care should begin before they even have a full set of baby teeth. Here are some simple steps that you can take to ensure proper dental health and development for your baby.

Start Those Early Dental Visits

You know that your baby needs to get started on a good healthcare routine as soon as they're born. In fact, you probably scheduled their first doctor's visit just a few weeks after your baby was born. However, when it comes to their teeth, you might plan on waiting quite a bit longer for their first trip to the dentist. The best rule of thumb for your baby's dental care is to schedule their first dental visit as soon as you can see their first tooth breaking through the skin. Not only does this protect your baby's teeth, but it also helps them develop a good relationship with the dentist.

Avoid Freezing Teething Rings

If you've been placing your baby's teething rings in the freezer to help soothe aching gums, you're not alone. Many parents actually follow the same practice. However, to protect delicate baby teeth and gums, teething rings should never be frozen. That's because the liquid filling can freeze into an ice formation, which can actually harm your baby's teeth and gums. To provide cooling relief for your baby, and to avoid the potential damage to teeth and gums, place the teething ring in the refrigerator instead. The gel will cool down, but it won't freeze.

Brush Babies Teeth and Gums

If you want to protect your baby's gums and developing teeth, you should start them on an early dental hygiene routine. At least three times a day, wipe your baby's gums off with a clean, damp cloth. Once they have their first tooth, switch to a soft baby toothbrush for their dental hygiene. For maximum protection, you should actually clean your baby's teeth and gums after each meal, including formula or breast milk meals.

Follow Through With Daycare

If you're going to be putting your baby into daycare, it's important that you get the staff on board with the dental hygiene routine. The daycare staff can go a long way toward ensure healthy teeth and gums for your baby. First, if your baby is still on a bottle, ensure that the staff avoids providing milk- or juice-filled bottles for nap time. Second, send a soft cloth or toothbrush along to ensure that your baby's teeth and gums are cleaned after each meal. Finally, request that the daycare provider avoid offering sweetened candies and treats to your child during the day.

Contact a company like Rupp and Grabowski Family Dentistry for more tips about baby tooth care.