From an early age, you teach your baby how to eat, speak, walk and do everything on their own. This process can take years. You also have to start teaching your children to take care of their teeth while they are very young. In fact, you yourself should be brushing their teeth as soon as they come into the mouth. Parents who teach their children oral hygiene basics while they are young have a better chance of their children having good oral health for life. Find out what your child should be doing for their oral health at different ages and how you can teach them those skills!

Infant Teeth Care

Need some guidance on how to care for infant teeth? The fact that you are aware that infant teeth need care is a great first step for preventative care!  Preventative steps you take now will help safeguard your child from small oral problems that can become big oral problems. By taking care of your child’s teeth now, you help create a healthy foundation for optimal oral healthcare for them through their formative years and into adulthood. Here are some tips for infant teeth care to help you stay on track:

• Have your baby see the dentist!
• Begin a cleaning routine before the infant teeth arrive. Wipe the gums off after a feeding with a warm washcloth to clean excess milk from the gums.
• Clean the teeth regularly once they break the gumline. Even though baby teeth will eventually fall out, your child will still have those teeth for several years. Baby teeth preserve the space for adult teeth that will eventually come in. When the teeth and gums are not cared for properly, those baby teeth can decay and the gums can get gingivitis. This is a gum infection that will cause the gums to be red and inflamed. It can also affect the spacing of the adult teeth when they come in.
• Avoid Baby Bottle Decay. Feed your baby and then clean the teeth. Don’t leave them with a bottle to suck on for hours. Milk sugars stick to teeth and linger in the infant’s saliva and can lead to cavities.
• Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Generally the teeth have come in by age 2. You can start brushing the teeth with a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste to keep baby teeth healthy and strong.

First Dental Visit

The American Dental Association recommends that your infant see the dentist between the eruption of their first tooth and the infant’s first birthday. The baby teeth will typically emerge between 6 months to a year.

Tooth decay can occur after a baby receives their first tooth, so it’s important that those teeth are taken care of. Tooth decay can lead to premature loss of  baby teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too soon, the permanent teeth can drift into the space that is left and make it difficult for the rest of the teeth to properly grow into place. Teeth might grow into space that they’re not supposed to or they could come in crooked. Make it a habit to start cleaning infant teeth as soon as they come in.

What to Expect with a Child Dental Visit

Allowing children to become accustomed to regular dental care while they are young will set them up for life.  Children are taught to not only trust their dentist, but they are also taught how to properly clean and take care of the teeth. Your child is much more likely to escape cavities when they have strong oral care habits and practices.

Help your child to brush and floss the teeth at least 2 times a day. You can help them brush after every meal to help solidify the habit. Some of the services we offer to the child patients we see are:

• Digital X-rays
• Laser Dentistry
• Dental Sealants
• White Fillings
• Interceptive Orthodontics
• Habit-Breaking Appliances (for thumb-sucking)
• Infant Frenectomies (for breastfeeding)

All of our services are safe for each child and we go out of our way to make sure they feel comfortable and safe in their new dental home!

Call to Schedule An Infant Dental Exam

Creating and preserving a healthy smile requires a team approach—your efforts and ours!  Dr. Shane S. Porter is pleased to provide comprehensive dental treatments to meet all of your family’s dental needs and desires. We are dedicated to helping your child achieve a healthy, beautiful smile that helps them feel confident and eager to share their smiles with others. Call Premier Dentistry of Eagle at 208-546-0655 today to schedule an appointment.