Advanced Cosmetic and General Dentistry Blog

Studio City, Valley Village, Burbank, North Hollywood

Friday, January 8, 2010

Babies and Oral Hygiene

So many parents are lackadaisical about oral hygiene for babies. The thought is that if they have no teeth, there is no reason to worry about dental hygiene. Furthermore, baby teeth are only temporary, so there is no need to bother brushing them on a daily basis. The staff at Smiles by Sands wants to educate parents that nothing could be further from the truth. Good oral hygiene habits should begin with infants and carry through adulthood.

The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees that baby teeth are important because they act as a guide for permanent teeth. When parents do not enforce good oral hygiene habits, baby teeth can be lost due to infection or decay. If the child’s permanent teeth are not ready to fill in those gaps, the baby teeth can begin to shift and cause serious problems for permanent teeth placement.

Tips for Baby Oral Hygiene

Start your baby on the road to a healthy smile with these tips:

  • Before teeth develop, wipe the gums with a wet cloth after mealtimes
  • Once the first tooth erupts, begin gently brushing with a soft toothbrush
  • Use training toothpaste or water to brush the first teeth; introduce fluoride toothpaste only when it is certain the child will not swallow the toothpaste
  • Limit the use of pacifiers and/or discourage thumb sucking
  • Avoid sending babies to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water; also avoid prolonged exposure to milk or juice-filled bottles

To learn more about oral hygiene for babies, please contact our Studio City, California family dentistry office today for a free consultation.

posted by Tiffany at 3:21 PM

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