Prevention Steps to Take Before Your Baby’s First Tooth Comes In
Everyone knows dental care is essential for everyone, but what about baby teeth? Baby teeth are already inside your kid’s jaws at birth. Dental professionals say that caring for teeth should begin even before the first tooth comes in.
Why Healthy Baby Teeth Are Important
Baby teeth help:
- Make it easier for your kid to talk more clearly
- Form the shape of your kid’s face
- Make eating and chewing easier
How to Clean Your Kid’s Mouth
Before and after the baby teeth come in, clean your kid’s mouth after each feeding or at least twice a day.
Before and after the teeth come in, you should clean your kid’s mouth after each feeding. Place your kid in a position that’s comfortable for both of you. You should be able to see easily inside your kid’s mouth. Before teeth come in, use a clean gauze pad or soft cloth over your finger. Dip the gauze in water, so it’s damp but not soaking wet. Then, wipe your kid’s teeth and gums gently.
When your kid’s teeth start coming in, you should begin to use a small soft toothbrush. First, place the toothbrush’s bristles at an angle along a row of teeth and against that kid’s gum line. Ensure you brush gently in secular motion. Brushing back and forth can hurt the gum and teeth, so you should do all sides of the teeth. Next, you should finish brushing the tongue with the toothbrush.
All kids should use fluoride toothpaste as soon as their first team comes in. Kids younger than three years should use this toothpaste about the size of a grain. Kids above three years should use a piece size amount of toothpaste. Your kid should try to spit out the toothpaste, but it’s safe to swallow this small amount of fluoride toothpaste if your kid doesn’t spit yet.
Kids can start to learn how to brush their teeth at the age of two. By the age of 10, your kid should be able to do it alone. So, you should start to teach them by having them watch you brush your teeth.
Baby Teeth Time Confusion: When Do Baby Teeth Come in?
Although a baby’s first tooth appears between 4 and 10 months of age, the first two normally erupt at approximately six months. However, some dentists in Austin, TX, have noted a family pattern of “early” or “late” teethers.
These are relatively rare condition natural teeth that describe the presence of our tools on the day of birth. This incident touches an event is 1 per 3000 live births. Usually, this single and often malformed tooth is a unique event in an average child. The presence of another tooth is one of several unusual findings which make up a syndrome.
If there’s a possibility of a syndrome, you should consult a pediatric dentist in Austin, TX, and they’ll offer help. The natal tooth is usually lost and is commonly removed before the newborn is discharged from the hospital to eliminate the risk of aspiration into the lung.
The Age at Which one Should Take their Child to the Dentist
If you see the first tooth, know that it’s time. You should take your kid to a pediatric dentist as soon as the first tooth erupts. Our dentist at Lifetime Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry says it usually happens at about six months old. Regardless of when your kid’s first tooth erupts, you shouldn’t wait until after their first birthday to make a dental appointment.
Also, if you notice anything abnormal in your kid’s mouth, such as bleeding or a white spot, ensure you make an appointment right away.
Why Start taking Your Kid to the Dentist so Early?
Tooth decay affects one in five children under five years of age. Your dentist near you can diagnose and treat any developing condition early. Your dentist will do what they can to make sure your baby is set up to have a beautiful and healthy smile for life. The dentist will be able to check four injuries, tooth decay, or other issues during your dental visit, and you will be able to track changes in your kid’s mouth as they age.
Also, even before your kid’s first tooth erupts, it’s essential to gently clean their gum with gauze or cloth and water, especially after breastfeeding.