Take Care of Your Baby's Oral Health from Birth

Take Care of Your Baby's Oral Health from Birth Take Care of Your Baby's Oral Health from Birth Take Care of Your Baby's Oral Health from Birth

        Oral and dental care of the infant is related to creating good habits in eating and sleeping. Therefore, oral and dental hygiene should be emphasized from birth without having to wait for initial teething.

Gum care is something parents should not neglect.

Most children begin teething after the first 6 months. However, the first 6 months is a very important period to lay a foundation for good dental health for the child.

  • Parents should wipe and clean the gums and the interior of the mouth with a clean damp cloth, wrapped around the finger. The areas that need cleaning at least twice a day are the tongue, gums, and the inside of the cheeks. These areas can also be cleaned more frequently during the day, for example, after breastfeeding or drinking milk. Practicing cleaning an infant’s gums allows he/she to become more acquainted with the maintenance of oral hygiene and creates a good foundation for when it comes time to learn about brushing their teeth in the future.
  • Do not let the baby fall asleep while breastfeeding or feeding. Infants often fall asleep very easily after they are fed or even during feeding. Most parents, then, lull their babies to sleep by giving them milk. However, to avoid problems with bottle dependence or sleeping during feedings, which is one of the main causes of tooth decay when the child starts to teeth, parents train the infant to fall asleep on their own, without having to take the bottle or be breastfed.
  • Have the child drink water after drinking formula milk. If the baby is fed formula milk, it is very important to train the baby to drink water after every meal to wash the residue of milk in the oral cavity, which is the source of fungus. In case of breastfeeding, there is no need to drink water in the first 6 months because breastmilk contains a natural antifungal agent.

Hello, gums. It’s me! Teeth!

At the age of about 6 months to 1 year, the first baby tooth will appear. Each child will grow teeth at different rates. The real burden of dental care accompanies the first tooth that starts to appear.

  • Start brushing or wiping the teeth.  To clean teeth during this age, parents may begin with a clean piece of cloth, followed by the use of a toothbrush suitable for the age and development of the child. You may start to use baby toothpaste in small amounts. If you are not sure about the amount of toothpaste, consult your dentist.  The child’s teeth need to be brushed at least 2 times a day or after every meal.
  • Do not use an excessive amount of toothpaste because the child can not yet spit very well. He/she may end up swallowing the toothpaste to the point that the fluoride content may exceed recommended intake, which will cause spotting in the teeth.
  • Make drinking water a habit. Avoid letting the child eat candy, desserts, or soft drinks to the point that it becomes a habit because sugar is an important food for bacteria that causes tooth decay. Parents should encourage the child to drink water after drinking milk, fruit juice, or after every meal. By drinking water from a glass or using a straw, as opposed to a bottle. Also, the child should be discouraged from falling asleep while sucking on the bottle without having properly cleaned teeth before bed time.
  • Consult a dentist early. Do not wait for tooth decay before you visit the dentist. When the child starts teething, visit a dentist to get proper dental care advice and accustom your child to dental check-ups. A good first impression will help the child not be afraid of the dentist. At the right age, fluoride coating should be considered to prevent tooth decay.

Because gum and dental health is very important in everyday life, from childhood to adulthood, parents should help cultivate discipline and care for oral health and teeth from the get go. Do not wait until it is too late.

Source: www.thaichilddevelopment.com

 

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