How to Take Care of Infants' Gums and First Teeth

by | Jul 1, 2015 | Uncategorized

Your baby’s first tooth is an important milestone. She’s joining the wonderful world of having teeth and chewing on things. Especially if you’re a first-time parent, this is both an exciting and a challenging time in your baby’s life, because teething can be uncomfortable for her. Here are some tips on how to take care of your infant’s gums and baby teeth as they start to come in.
father and babyYou should actually start taking care of your child’s gums right away. You won’t need a toothbrush until the first baby teeth come in. In the meantime, take a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze and gently wipe down your baby’s gums. Do this at least twice a day, especially after feedings and before you put her to bed. This gets rid of the bacteria in her mouth that could damage her teeth as they come in.
Typically around the six month mark, the first baby tooth starts to come in, although some children are even born with erupted teeth while others don’t get their first tooth until about a year old. Whenever the first tooth come in, you can graduate to a toothbrush. When buying your baby’s first toothbrush, find one with soft bristles, a small head and a large handle. When it’s time to brush, use a very small amount of fluoride-free toothpaste, a drop the size of a grain of rice, and brush gently around the front and back of her teeth. At the age of three, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Your baby’s first dental visit should also occur by her first birthday. During the first visit, your Mesa pediatric dentist will talk to you about issues pertaining to the development of baby teeth, such as how to handle teething, when and how to use fluoride, and what to do about thumbsucking and pacifiers. If it’s getting close to time for your infant’s first dental visit, call your Arizona pediatric dentist today!

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