DENTAL CARE FOR BABY

03/30/2014

When my daughter was only 6 weeks old, one of my mothers friends bought me a hand toothbrush as a baby gift. At first I was surprised not even thinking that I would have to brush her teeth so soon. But slowly I started hearing and reading stories about infants/toddlers who had developed cavities at an early age. It has since made me reconsider dental care for my daughter who is now 14 months – as I realize the importance of starting early. So I contacted Sally Lloyd from Lifetime Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic about taking care of those little babies teeth. She’s seen a lot of kids come through her office doors, and has great suggestions for how to keep your kids teeth healthy from the start.
1. When babies start to develop teeth, should you start brushing right away? At what age do you start brushing?
Actually you can begin wiping out a baby’s mouth before they have teeth. You can use a wet washcloth or a piece of moistened gauze. Wiping off their gums helps to remove plaque bacteria that forms and sticks to their gums. Plaque is present on the gums before the teeth erupt.
2. What type of toothbrush do you recommend?
When teeth appear you can start to use a toothbrush. It should have soft bristles and a small head so that it can be adapted to their teeth. You don’t need to use toothpaste until around age 2, and then it is a small smear of fluoridated toothpaste on the bristles.

3. Are pacifiers harmful for long term teeth development of babies?
Pacifiers displace the tongue from it’s ideal location, and like a thumb or finger sucking habit can cause changes in the soft forming bone of the roof of the mouth. Ideally they should be discontinued around age 1, or not used at all.
4. Should I discourage thumb sucking, because I hear it has long term consequences in terms of tooth development?
This is a habit, and like adult habits , proves difficult to break at times. Oral habits like thumb sucking should be address at age 4, or 5 years old – at the latest. If parents have tried everything and still no luck, there are oral myofacial therapists who provide thumb sucking therapy to break the habit. These habits can result in malformed bite, leading to tongue thrust and/or abnormal swallowing patterns.
4. What is wrong with leaving a bottle in the crib with my baby? Does it damage tooth development?
It depends on what is in the bottle. It is best not to put a baby to bed with a bottle because bacteria in the mouth metabolize the sugars in formula, breast milk and juices and create acid as a byproduct. It is this acid that causes tooth decay.
5. How should I encourage good dental hygiene for my baby? Is it too early to start under a year?
No never too early to start. Flip the lip and check that any teeth present do not have brown spots. A balanced diet with essential vitamins and minerals plays one of the most important parts in good dental health – not only in the developing teeth and gum health, but impacts risk of tooth decay as well.

6. Do all babies get teeth at the same time? Should I worry if my child has too many/too little?
No they don’t get all their teeth at the same time, and no two children are the same. Not even siblings, some children are early and some late. If you are concerned look at a tooth eruption chart, if your child is very late then see a dental healthcare provider. First tooth generally erupts around 6 months of age and last baby tooth arrives around age 3.
7. When should I bring my child to the dentist/hygenist for the first time? What types of services do you provide for babies?
The first visit should be at the baby’s pace, and will likely occur on a parents lap. It will include an exam to ensure that teeth are erupting on time, in sequence and that there is no pathology or tooth decay present. An intraoral exam can include assessing the tongue for anklyosis (tongue tie). One of the most important aspects of the first visit will be answering parents questions and reviewing home care specific to their child. Each child is unique and home care and diet will be individualized to that child’s needs.
First visit should be 6 months after their 1st tooth erupts – approximately 1 year old. Lifetime Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic offers a FREE first visit for your baby.
For more information on Lifetime Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic you can check out their website here:
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