Tips on Caring For Baby’s Teeth
Although the first set of teeth is only used for a few years, we cannot undermine the importance of it, because:
- Your baby needs to chew food with it.
- It makes a nice smile on your baby and helps he/she talk well.
- It helps permanent teeth grow out in the proper place and straight.
Here are some quick but important tips on taking care of your baby’s teeth from American Academy of Family Physicians:
- Clean the new teeth every day. When the teeth first come in, clean them by rubbing them gently with a clean wet washcloth. When the teeth are bigger, use a child’s toothbrush.
- Children under 2 years of age shouldn’t use toothpaste. Instead, use water to brush your child’s teeth.
- Don’t let your baby go to sleep with a bottle. This can leave milk or juice sitting on the teeth and cause cavities that are known as “baby-bottle tooth decay.”
- Encourage older children to eat low-sugar snacks, such as fruits, cheese and vegetables. Avoid giving your child sticky, chewy candy.
- Teach your children how to brush their teeth and the importance of keeping their teeth clean.
- Take your children to the dentist regularly. The American Dental Association recommends that children see their dentist starting at 1 year of age.