Baby Teeth Cleaning
Many adults do not give much concern to baby teeth – unless, of course, their baby is going through the teething process or their young child has just lost a baby tooth. However, it is a mistake to disregard caring for baby teeth. It may sound melodramatic, but the future of the child’s permanent teeth, as well as the way in which the child acts toward tooth care and the dentist, depend upon how his first teeth are treated. Baby teeth cleaning is amazingly important, much more so than most people realize.
According to a 2007 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of children with tooth decay is increasing. This means that the right care isn’t being taken to keep children’s teeth healthy. Parents need to know that as soon as a baby tooth emerges, it can begin to decay – if the parent does not practice proper baby teeth cleaning habits. While it may not seem to be of great consequence if a child has tooth decay in his baby teeth, it can be a big problem. This is because the baby teeth act as spacers for the permanent teeth that will come in later; decay and loss of baby teeth can cause loss of space for the permanent teeth, which can lead to teeth shifting and other orthodontic problems.
How Do I Clean Baby Teeth?
It is best to start working with baby teeth cleaning right from the start, when the baby is a newborn. This will make the process smoother and easier as the baby will become used to the parent working with his or her mouth and teeth.
Newborn babies and babies with no teeth: This is the time during which parents should start getting their babies used to the habit of having someone working with their mouths. Parents should take a piece of gauze and gently wipe the gums twice per day, or after each meal.
Babies – after teeth begin to emerge: Parents should use a soft bristled infant toothbrush for baby teeth cleaning; however, no toothpaste should be used as of yet. Wait until after the first dentist visit (at around 1 year of age) to begin using toothpaste. Brush the teeth, gums, and tongue gently twice per day, or after each meal.
Toddlers and older children: An age-appropriate toothbrush should be chosen. When using toothpaste, only pea-size amounts should be used – and make sure to use the toothpaste recommended by the dentist. Brushing should still be done on the teeth, gums, and tongue twice per day or after each meal.
Tips on Baby Teeth Cleaning
It may be a bit difficult to work with some babies with teeth cleaning at times. Here are a few suggestions to try to make it easier:
- Make tooth care fun by singing a song or playing music.
- Have your baby “brush” your teeth while you take care of his.
- Pretend to brush a toy’s teeth; then brush your baby’s teeth.
