Infant Oral Health – How to Clean Infant Teeth & Gums
Posted on April 25th, 2023 | Christopher Neal
Caring for your child’s teeth and gums is an important, daily task. When it comes to dental appointments, it is recommended that children first visit the dentist when their first tooth emerges, or by the time they turn 1 year old. However, the earlier you begin at-home dental care, the better for their smile development. As a matter of fact, cleaning your child’s teeth and gums can begin during infancy.
Why are Baby Teeth Important?
Baby teeth are vital to your child’s oral health. Baby teeth act as placeholders for adult teeth, allow your child to chew and speak properly, and aid in proper jaw and facial development. This is why it’s so important to take care of your child’s first set of teeth, even if they’ll be losing them later.
Baby teeth can be impacted by dental disease just like adult teeth. Without proper care, a child’s primary teeth can be affected by cavities, damage caused by issues like bottle rot, dental infections, and gum disease.
How to Clean A Baby’s Teeth
Cleaning your child’s teeth and gums at home can help prevent early childhood dental disease, like tooth decay. Brushing a baby’s teeth might sound difficult, but it’s actually quite simple.
Use a soft, dampened cloth or gauze to gently wipe your child’s teeth and gums after feedings, or a minimum of once per day at bedtime. You can wrap the cloth around your finger, or you can use a soft bristled infant toothbrush. Finger brushes can be particularly useful for getting to every area of your baby’s mouth.
Be sure to brush teeth in gentle, circular motions, clean the tongue carefully, and do not use any toothpaste.
For babies whose first teeth have yet to develop, parents can clean their gums using the same damp cloth method as described above. This helps keep bacteria from accumulating on your baby’s gums and allows them to get used to good dental hygiene practices.
When it comes to toothpaste, talk to our infant dentist in Palos Heights about when it’s safe to start putting toothpaste on your child’s brush. For children under 3 years of age, you should apply no more than an amount equivalent to the size of a grain of rice. For children over 3, a pea sized amount is appropriate.
Contact Us for Infant Dental Care – Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry
If you’re looking for a trusted pediatric dentist you can rely on for quality infant dental care, contact us at Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry. We’ll help you protect your child’s smile throughout their life.
Call us at (708) 448-6700 today to schedule an appointment.
