Caring for Each Component of Your Child’s Smile

February 8, 2018
Caring for your baby’s smile should start at birth, even before they have teeth or are visiting the dentist. We have provided a review of the areas of your child’s smile that you can care for at home to keep the teeth and gums healthy:

Gums: While your baby’s teeth won’t appear until they are at least six months, their gums should be cleaned after each feeding by running a clean and damp washcloth or piece of gauze along the gum tissue.

Baby teeth: Brush your baby’s teeth with plain water and a soft-bristled toothbrush until they are about two years of age. At this point, they can begin using toothpaste. Refrain from giving your baby juice or milk when they go to bed, or else the sugars can contribute to tooth decay and sucking on a bottle may misalign the teeth. Even if there are no teeth yet, the sugar can allow bacteria to remain on the gums and lips.

Toothpaste: When old enough, your child can use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, but they will need help brushing their teeth until they are about six and can do it themselves. To help your child develop effective oral care skills, you can encourage them to first brush by themselves, and then finish cleaning their smile yourself.

Dental floss: It’s time to start flossing your child’s teeth as soon as two teeth erupt side by side, often around the age of two. Most children can’t floss by themselves until they are 8 to 10 years old, and will need assistance and supervision until this time.

You can help your child enjoy a lifetime of good oral health by caring for their teeth and gums. You are welcome to give Arel C Ondoy DMD a call at 708-535-0333 today if you would like to learn more about your child’s oral health in Oak Forest, Illinois. We can help you schedule an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Arel Ondoy.
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