How to maintain baby’s dental health
Baby teeth growth
Babies start to develop their teeth when they are still in their mother’s womb, as newborns have a full set of 20 baby teeth hidden in their gums.
Most commonly, teething starts to develop between the age of 6 and 10 months, but in some cases teeth appear early as 3 months! And in some other cases, teeth start to appear around 12 months.
In rare cases, a number of children are born with 1-2 teeth and most of the children have their full set of baby teeth by 3 years of age. Usually, the lower incisors appear firstly, then the upper incisors, followed by the molar, canines and second molars.
Symptoms that appear while baby’s teething :
Some babies don’t experience any pain or discomfort when they are teething ! But in some cases, these symptoms may indicate that your baby’s first tooth is developing:
- Gum redness and soreness.
- Mild elevation of body temperature of less than 38C.
- Rashes start to appear on their faces.
- Face flushing.
- Ear rubbing.
- Increase saliva secretions.
- Chewing and biting on things.
- Sleep difficulties.
How to prevent early tooth decay ?
There are many factors that may enhance tooth decay, as teeth cleaning and brushing is not the only way to protect your baby’s teeth from decay! Diet and the food that is served for your baby may be the reason behind tooth decay.
In most cases, babies start to eat solid food at around 6 months and during this phase, it is recommended to look up after your baby’s quality of food and their dental hygiene! Moreover, you can prevent early tooth decay by:
- Avoiding sugary drinks or food once you introduce solids.
- Clean your baby’s teeth and gum.
- Avoid putting your baby to bed with a milk bottle, as when your baby is sleeping, saliva secretions that protect his/her teeth decrease and milk will keep dropping in their mouth and this puts them at risk of developing tooth decay.
Proper techniques to clean your baby’s teeth and gum
Cleaning your baby’s teeth and gum is significantly important to avoid several dental problems such as tooth decay, bad breath and gum diseases! Here are some advices to properly maintain your baby’s dental hygiene:
- Keep their position in a secure way and see their mouth.
- Hold your baby’s chin in your hands, and rest their head against your body.
- Raise your baby’s lip to clean teeth and gum using a soft toothbrush in a circular motion.
- Clean the front and back of each tooth.
- Encourage your baby during teeth cleaning by using an infant toothbrush that attracts their attention to play with and put in their mouth!
Check up with our pediatric dentist to make sure that your baby’s teeth and gums are kept healthy! It is recommended to visit the dentists when your baby is around 12 months of age or when the first tooth comes out.
