Congratulations on welcoming your little bundle of joy to this world, but what oral hygiene? If you have a newborn and wondering when is the right time to start oral care, you are in the right place.
However, the discussion here is for information only, it’s not medical or dental advice. Talk to your dentist or healthcare provider, if you have any questions or concerns about your infant.
Read on for more information.
When Can I Start Oral Hygiene Routine for My Newborn?
It’s possible that caring for the oral health of your newborn may seem a new thing, after all, the infant has no teeth! So, why does oral hygiene matter? This and many other questions may come to your mind. Well, you’re not alone, especially if you are a first-time parent!
Ideally, you must always discuss such questions with your healthcare provider and if you have a family dentist, it’s even easier to ask questions for the newborns.
However, it’s best if you can clean the infant’s gums using a soft damp cloth. You can do it once a day so that the newborn gets comfortable with oral health care. When the baby is between six and ten months and you observe a tooth erupt in your mouth, it would be time to use infant suitable toothbrush and toothpaste.
The goal here is to make children aware of the importance of oral hygiene from an early age. Plus, when you are proactive and take care of the oral hygiene of the babies, it can pay off in the long run!
On the other hand, neglecting oral hygiene won’t be ideal. It’s wise to learn the do’s and don’t while you are expecting a baby. Indeed, babies don’t come with a manual, but knowing and understanding the basics can go a long way.
When to Take Babies to Dentist?
When you have a baby there would be many questions on your mind. Parenthood is challenging, you have to care for yourself, and on top of that, there is a tiny human who depends on you for all his or her needs! But, you may also wonder when is the right time to take the baby to the dentist.
According to Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, it’s recommended that you take your baby to the dentist by 12 months of age. However, if the baby gets the teeth around six months then within six months of the tooth eruption you would visit the dentist.
It’s always a good idea to keep your dentist in the loop. A dentist knows more about baby’s teeth and thus, would be able to guide you better. Well, it’s also true that you would get information online and you can ask around from friends and family, but honestly, talking to the dentist is the ultimate solution.
How to Maintain Oral Hygiene In Babies?
Infants depend on their parents for everything! Whether it’s about changing the soiled diapers or nutrition, babies need their parents. So, naturally, when it comes to maintaining oral hygiene, you are responsible for that too!
Start by cleaning the gums of the infants with a soft damp cloth. It may indeed seem unusual, but it’s wise to know what’s essential for oral hygiene. After all, your overall health and oral hygiene are equally important.
When your baby appears fussy and you are unsure especially around six months, it’s best to get the gums checked with the doctor. The doctor may recommend going to a dentist. In any case, it’s better to rule out the possibility of discomfort caused by new teeth emerging. Babies can only communicate by crying and being fussy, so you have to see what’s bothering them.
Start maintaining oral hygiene from a young age. Buy appropriate toothpaste and toothbrush for baby’s teeth and as the child grows change accordingly. Let your dentist suggest to you what the best toothpaste or toothbrush would be for your child’s age.
FAQs
What can I do if I’m unsure about maintaining the oral hygiene of babies?
Ask! You can ask your dentist, family doctor, and even other parents what they do to maintain the oral hygiene of their babies. However, the professionals can guide you in the right direction. Understandably, maintaining the oral hygiene of newborns may seem unnecessary as they have no teeth but gums, but ideally, it’s best to start from an early age. Plus, educate yourself about such matters of life. It would help in the long run!
Why does maintaining oral hygiene from a young age matter?
Maintaining oral hygiene from a young age matters as it helps with a lifelong commitment. If you aren’t serious about oral hygiene, the children can learn the same from you especially if you would be their role model. If oral hygiene isn’t practiced in your family, it means there is a chance of costly visits to the dentist. There could be cavities, root canals, and even extraction. Dental procedures can be painful and expensive, which is why it’s best to prevent bad oral health habits from an early age. So, ensure you and your kids are on the right track.
Wrapping It Up
Life becomes a lot more interesting when you know what decisions to make at the right time. One such decision involves taking care of the oral hygiene of newborns. Your babies depend on you for oral health and many other important areas of life. Instilling healthy habits from a young age can go a long way for you and your children. There can come a time in your life when the kids, eventually when they would be adults would thank you for maintaining their oral health. It’s a commitment and it’s important that you don’t neglect the oral healthcare of your children and for that, your oral hygiene must be perfect too! Visit a dentist if you have any concerns or questions!