Dental care for infants
It’s important to bring a baby to the dentist, even before they have a mouth full of teeth. Ideally, that first visit should be within six months of the appearance of their first tooth, before their first birthday.
First visit to the dentist
It’s recommended that you bring your baby in for a visit within six months of the first tooth’s appearance — usually around their first birthday. Since decay can occur in even the smallest of teeth, the earlier your baby visits us, the more likely they are to avoid problems. We’ll look for any signs of early problems with your baby’s oral health and check in with you about the best way to care for their teeth. Remember that preparing for each dental visit with a positive attitude goes a long way toward making your child comfortable with regular checkups.
Because we believe this visit is so important, Wild About Smiles offers a complimentary first exam for babies seen by age one.
Infant Dental Care
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Avoiding cavities
Don’t give your baby any sweetened liquids such as flavored drinks or soda. Even the sugars present in fruit juice, formula, and milk (this goes for breast milk as well) can cause decay, so regular teeth and gum cleaning is vital. Make sure your baby never goes to bed with a bottle. Sugary liquids in prolonged contact with teeth are a guarantee for early-childhood decay, also called baby-bottle caries.
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Caring for gums
Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, the gums can benefit from your careful attention. After breast, chest or bottle feeding, wrap one finger with a clean, damp washcloth or a piece of gauze and gently rub it across your baby’s gum tissue. This practice both clears your little one’s mouth of any fragments of food and begins the process for building good daily oral care habits
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Set a good example
As part of the natural learning process, little ones are expert mimics, and you can take advantage of this talent. Brush and floss daily while your child is watching, and they will learn at an early age the importance of your good habits. As soon as your child shows interest, offer them a toothbrush of their own and encourage your toddler to “brush” with you. (You’ll find toothbrushes with chunky, short handles that are easy to grip.)
Introducing a toothbrush
When your baby gets their first tooth, it’s time to get a baby toothbrush. There are usually two options: a long-handled toothbrush that you and your baby can hold at the same time, and a finger-puppet-like brush that fits over the tip of your pointer finger. In each case, the bristles are soft and few.
At this stage, toothpaste isn’t necessary; just dip the brush in water before brushing. If your little one doesn’t react well to the introduction of a toothbrush, don’t give up. Switch back to a damp washcloth for a few weeks, and then try the toothbrush again. During the teething process, your child will want to chew on just about anything, and a baby toothbrush with a teether can become a favorite toy during this period.
Brushing with toothpaste
When a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste with your child’s brush. However, for the first two years, be sure to choose toothpaste that does not contain fluoride or use a rice grain size instead of a pea size amount of toothpaste. From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting out toothpaste.
