children's dentistry

It’s never too early to begin a healthy oral care routine. In fact, you should begin caring for your child’s gums long before their first tooth emerges, which is usually around the six-month mark of their life. Healthy gums are an important predicator of healthy teeth, and maintaining clean gums will help ensure that your child has healthy, cavity-free baby teeth. But how can you keep your infant’s mouth clean? Below are some tips that will you keep your new child’s mouth clean, and set them up for a healthy smile later in life.

Avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby bottle tooth decay is one of the most common ailments that young children encounter. It usually occurs when infants drink milk or other sugary beverages in their bottle without cleaning their mouths afterwards. You can avoid baby bottle tooth decay by giving your child water after they’ve had milk, and by limiting or eliminating sugary beverages in their bottles. If your child requires a bedtime bottle, then make sure that it is filled with only water so that you’re not exposing their teeth to sugar for long periods.

Use a Washcloth

You can clean your infant’s gums – or their first teeth – by simply using a cold, clean wash cloth. Simply rinse a clean, soft wash cloth with cool water and wring it out. After your child has finished eating, or drinking a sugary drink, use the damp wash cloth to gently wipe out their mouth. This will remove any sugar or acid that’s left by their food, and help prevent early cavities.

Find the Right toothbrush

Once your child has a few more baby teeth – usually between 8 and 12 months – then you can graduate from a wash cloth to a toothbrush designed for toddlers. There are a lot of toothbrushes designed for babies and toddlers from which to choose. Generally speaking, toothbrushes designed for babies have much softer bristles and a smaller head than those meant for older children.

After finding the right toothbrush, begin brushing your child’s teeth and gums twice per day. Make sure to be extra gentle, since their teeth and gums are still developing and are quite sensitive. Use toothpaste with fluoride that is made for very young children, and not as spicy as adult’s toothpaste. Use only a smear of toothpaste – about the size of a grain of rice – to brush their teeth. When they’ve gotten older and have more teeth, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Always be sure to rinse their mouth out with cool water after you’re done brushing, and try to keep them from swallowing any toothpaste.

Visit Our Office

If you’ve just had a baby, and are unsure about how to properly care for their mouth, then visit our office. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises new parents that their child should establish a dental home by their first birthday. By doing so, you can help your child avoid cavities, and become more comfortable visiting the dentist as they age. Our office is designed to cater to children, and create a relaxing and unintimidating atmosphere which they look forward to visiting.

Time. For. Bed. The three most disliked words in a child’s vocabulary. Is there anything you can do to make bed time smoother? Yes, say the experts. First and foremost, stick to a routine and that includes nightly brushing and flossing, too. To make bed time easier and to ensure your children go to bed with clean teeth, Whitehall children’s dentist Dr. Marcela Mujica offers the following tips.

Routine, Routine, Repeat

Children thrive on the consistency of a routine. Therefore, establish and nightly bed time routine when they’re young and make sure to include tooth brushing and flossing. Give children what they expect and they’re less likely to resist. Skip a step in the routine and you and your child might suffer the consequences.

Avoid Changing the Time of the Routine

Just as important as the nightly routine itself is that it happens at the same time every night. When bed time is later than usual then your son or daughter may be too tired to endure the hassle of brushing their teeth. And if bedtime is too early then they may not be able to settle down.

This or That?

Whether or not they brush their teeth is not a choice. That’s a must. However, there are decisions your children can make that will let them feel some sense of control. For example, you can let children decide which flavor of toothpaste to use each night. And for a real change of pace, let them choose which bathroom to brush in.

Chart Their Progress

In addition to being told their doing well, children like to see their progress, too. Draw a teeth brushing and flossing chart or download one online. Then, let your kids place stickers on the chart after they’ve brushed and flossed their teeth for the night. Once there are a certain amount of stickers, they can receive a reward such as a small toy, a new toothbrush or a package of Xylitol sweetened chewing gum.

Family Fun

There’s no reason not to brush and floss your teeth right along with your children—even if you are planning to stay up and have a snack. Have a race to see who can brush their teeth the longest. When you stop after two minutes, your child wins the race and you’ve just gotten them to brush for two minutes or a bit longer.

Call Our Office Today

For more tooth brushing and flossing tips from Whitehall children’s dentist Dr. Mujica, contact All Kids Pediatric Dentistry.