You may be wondering how you can take care of your baby’s teeth if they don’t even have teeth yet! But good oral health (and getting in the habit of good oral health) starts long before those teeth start coming in. Read on for some things you can do to make sure your child starts life with healthy, strong teeth and develops the skills they need to keep them that way!
Keep Their Mouth Clean
Even before they have teeth to brush, there are things you can do to make sure your child’s mouth stays clean. Simply using a wet washcloth to gently wipe the gums, after feeding and before bedtime, can keep them free of debris and bacteria.
Their First Teeth
Once your baby starts getting his or her teeth in, it’s the perfect time to start getting them used to brushing their teeth. Give them a child-sized toothbrush and have them use it every night. You don’t even need toothpaste at this point; you just want to get them used to the idea (oftentimes children may not like the sensation of having the toothbrush in their mouths). Eventually you can put a very small amount of toothpaste on the brush. Once your child is a toddler, you can add a bit more toothpaste and brush their teeth very gently. You’ll have to supervise their tooth brushing until they can do a thorough job on their own – make sure they don’t use too much toothpaste (or swallow it) and that they brush for at least 2 minutes at a time.
Their First Trip to the Dentist
When your child starts teething, it is time to make an appointment for their first trip to the dentist! Your dentist will make sure that there are no dental issues and can give you some helpful advice on helping your child keep their teeth healthy.
Another tip to ensure that your children have healthy teeth is to choose the right dentist. Contact Dental Kidz Club for an appointment at one of their many locations for expert pediatric dental care: Brea, Corona, Covina, Ontario, Riverside, Chino, and Perris, California. Call 951-200-5553 to schedule an appointment today!
