Tooth Care for Infants

Even though baby teeth are just temporary, it’s still very important to begin building a basis for good oral hygiene. You can start caring for your baby’s mouth before a tooth even erupts, by wiping the gums after feedings with a warm, damp cloth wrapped around your finger in order to rub off excess food.

Once teeth do start appearing in your child’s mouth, it’s important to begin caring for them right away. These first teeth preserve spacing for the permanent ones to fit into later. If they aren’t brushed and kept clean, it can lead to decay, which can cause an infection in the gums called gingivitis. Damage done to baby teeth and gums can affect the spacing of permanent teeth later.

Make sure you’re following your child’s meals with water. Most baby food will rinse off of teeth with just a drink of water. However, it is important to begin using a toothbrush as early as possible in order to acclimate your child to it. This will be beneficial to you as well, as children used to having a toothbrush in their mouth won’t fight brushing later on.

Schedule a dental exam with our skilled Dover pediatric dentist, Dr. Wilson, at Great Outdoors Pediatric Dentistry today!