How to Care for Your Infant's Teeth

That sweet, gummy, baby smile is enough to melt your heart!  But how and when does a parent start practicing oral hygiene at home?

For starters, even before teeth come in, gently clean your baby's gums.  I find it best to do this during bath time.  Wrap a wet washcloth around your finger and gently glide along baby's gums.

Once teeth appear, you can continue to use the washcloth during bath time.  If it's not bath night, there are several baby tooth brushes that you can use.  This is my favorite to use until molars come in.

Once that happens a tooth brush, like the one below, works best (and saves your finger from a bite!)

Avoid using large amounts of toothpaste with fluoride in it.  A tiny smear of toothpaste is plenty.  It's not the end of the world if a bit of toothpaste is swallowed, but keep the tube out of reach.  If you are worried, there are fluoride free toothpastes available.  Incorporating the right amount of fluoride in your baby's teeth and developing adult teeth is important.

Flossing of course is recommended as soon as multiple teeth come in, easier said than done.  Check to see how tight your baby's teeth are.  Does floss easily slip into a large space between the teeth or does the floss 'snap' into place?  If that floss 'snaps' into place, your kiddo is more at risk for decay, making flossing all the more important.  That tight space traps bacteria and the tongue and saliva have a harder time cleaning out that area. I find it easiest to use flossers, with my child's head in my lap to clean out bacteria and food between the teeth.