For new parents, the world is full of discoveries. From big milestones like baby’s first words to everyday small moments, there are endless adventures to experience and challenges to overcome. With all that mystery in mind, it’s important to ask questions when you aren’t sure what’s best for your child.
One essential part of protecting your baby’s health is caring for their teeth. Dental health is a key part of overall health, and setting your child up with healthy habits while they are young can help them avoid health problems further down the line.
Keep reading to get answers to all your big questions about pediatric dental health, and feel free to come see us at Heroes Dental for answers to any other baby teeth questions.
When Should I Start Cleaning My Baby’s Teeth and Gums?
For the first three to six months of your baby’s life, they probably won’t have any teeth for you to care for, but it’s still important to keep babies’ gums clean with a washcloth or infant toothbrush.
After six months, your baby’s teeth will most likely begin to appear. At this stage, you’ll need to clean both the baby’s gum and any teeth. By nine months, your baby still may not have any teeth, but gum care should continue in any case.
How Do I Care For My Baby’s Teeth?
Once baby teeth begin to appear, you’ll need to start cleaning them twice per day. You can use an infant toothbrush and just a small amount of fluoride toothpaste to care for your baby’s teeth. Gently brush the teeth, as well as the gums where teeth haven’t yet begun to show. As your baby grows, you can encourage them to start spitting after brushing.
As soon as your baby has teeth that press together, you’ll need to start flossing once per day. Usually, this will happen after your baby has reached two years old.
When Should My Child Start Brushing Their Teeth Themselves?
By age three, your child should begin to learn how to brush their teeth themselves. You’ll still need to guide and monitor them to make sure their teeth are really getting clean, but they can start to practice on their own.
At this age, you can increase the amount of toothpaste you’re using to a pea-sized amount, and be sure to continue teaching your child how to spit out extra toothpaste instead of swallowing it.
What Age Should My Baby Go to the Dentist for the First Time?
To ensure your baby’s long-term dental health has a solid foundation, you should bring your baby in to see the dentist within six months of their first tooth appearing. For most babies, this will be at around one year of age.
During their pediatric dental visit, your baby will usually undergo a full exam of the teeth and mouth to check for any issues and monitor growth.
If your baby’s teeth haven’t started to appear by the time they’ve reached 18 months old, you should consider taking them in to see a dentist to check for delayed dental development.
Protect Your Baby’s Teeth With a Visit to Heroes Dental
We know your baby’s smile brings you joy; now, do what you need to do to protect it. Bring your one-year-old in to see us at one of our Heroes Dental locations for a comprehensive dental exam.
Raising a child is far from easy, but taking care of your baby’s teeth doesn’t have to be hard. Come see us at Heroes Dental to get answers to all of your pediatric dental health questions.