Find out the latest news and topics of interest from Dr. James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.!
Dental Care for Babies
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Teeth start to come in around the age of 6 months. They help your baby chew food and speak clearly. And they help shape your baby’s face and guide adult teeth into place.
Teething
- Offer a cold, firm, safe teething object like a teething ring or slightly frozen washcloth.
- Rub the gums gently with your clean finger.
Cleaning and Brushing
- After teeth come in, gently clean teeth and gums with a small, soft toothbrush or clean damp cloth and a rice-sized amount of toothpaste.
To Keep Teeth Healthy
- If you give your baby a bottle at bedtime or naps, give only water. Other liquids can cause decay if left in your baby’s mouth while sleeping.
- Ask your dentist or doctor about fluoride drops when your child is 6 months old, and make sure that your baby’s mouth is checked by age one. Take your baby in sooner if you notice a problem.
I think this is good to know. I don’t have kids, but I know a lot of young mothers that have known when a child is teething, but not what to do about it.
I don’t know if I necessarily agree with flouride treatments or not or if I would force that on my child. When I had a flouride treatment as a young adult it was nasty. There are people on both sides of the fence so I guess it just depends on your personal thoughts about flouride.
I would definitely take a child to the dentist when they were young. My parents couldn’t afford to and by the time I could go things were so bad I now have an utter complete fear of dentistry.