Dental Care for Newborn Baby

by Murshid Paravath Manager

Have you ever wondered whether there is a need to look after the child's first teeth since they fall out? “Well, healthy-looking teeth and good dental habits should start from a very young age.” Says Dr. Kartik who is one of the best dentists in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Here’s how you take care of your kid,s oral hygiene and in different stages of your life.

For newborns up to a period when baby teeth erupt (3-6 months) gently wipe the gums with a damp cloth after each feeding to remove plaque. A child's first teeth will usually come in at around six months of age. Therefore parents should brush the child's teeth twice a day using a soft bristle child-sized toothbrush and a dab of fluoride toothpaste. Children aged 6 and above begin to miss their baby teeth and form their permanent teeth. At this age help your child to start learning how to how to brush his or her teeth independently. Supervise your child brushing from time to time to ensure that the right technique is used. At the age of three, your child will have his full set of baby teeth. Many parents are concerned with using fluoride toothpaste because of the risk of fluorosis which is having white spots on teeth. However, it is important to switch to one as the benefits of cavity protection outweigh the risk and fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay.

FAQ

There are several questions that you might have as a parent about your child’s dental health. Here are a few of the questions that are frequently asked by the parents as stated by the specialists of Pulp Dental Clinic which is one of the best dental clinics in Nungambakkam, Chennai.

• Will constant breathing through the mouth will affect oral health?

Yes, many parents do not know that such habits will lead to abnormal facial and dental development such as long narrow faces and mouths, gummy smile, gingivitis, and crooked teeth. It will be good to seek help from an orthodontist or ENT specialist to get the problem resolved.

• How to fight cavities more effectively?

Tooth decay is the most common problem that children face. Here are some preventive tips to consider-

- Encourage your baby to drink from a cup at the age of six months and to discourage drinking from a bottle after a year.

- Avoid giving a child sugary drinks such as fruit juices that are having high sugar content. Instead, just offer milk or water as drinks.

- Also, limit the amount of sweet food your child receives. Make an effort to visually check a child's mouth weekly for signs of cavities.

• Should shaky baby teeth be removed?

Yes, shaky baby teeth should be removed if they cause pain when chewing food and if your child is not brushing the area to avoid bleeding and pain.

• If my child's front teeth are sticking outwards should I be concerned?

You should consult your dentist on whether early orthodontic intervention is required for your child. Front teeth that protrude outwards are more prone to trauma, chipping, and fracture.

• When can my child start wearing braces?

The best time for a child to get dental braces depends on the severity and cause of the misalignment of a child's teeth. You’ll be good to get a dental consult after the front teeth erupt. Typically treatment with dental braces begins when a child has all of his or her adult teeth which is around at the age of 12. At this age, children will generally have this full set of teeth. It is important to visit a dentist for regular dental checks.

In general, good dental habits will help a child to go a long way into adulthood. So help your child to cultivate them in their growing years. Few things that you can do to help your child maintain overall oral health are-

• Create a habit of brushing twice daily after the meal. This will help to remove the plaque from the teeth & especially from the gum-line which is one of the major causes of periodontitis. However, excessive brushing will damage the enamel of the teeth. So avoid brushing more than twice a day.

• Do not brush immediately after eating. Acidic foods sometimes may soften the enamel & when you will brush immediately after having such foods, it will cause severe damage to the enamel.

• Create a habit of flossing. It is necessary to remove plaque from the areas where your regular toothbrush is not able to clean. Take a floss of around 18 cm in length & make sure that you are not using the same part of the floss for two different teeth.

• Always use a soft bristle brush. Sometimes people believe that hard bristles are more capable of removing the plaque. But this is not true. It totally depends upon how you brush. You should use a small circular motion & try to clean the hard to reach areas first.

• Use an antibacterial mouthwash as it will prevent the growth of harmful bacterias in your mouth. There are several other types of mouthwash available in the market. You can choose one based on your requirement.

• Eat healthy foods to prevent oral diseases. Make sure you eat enough fruits & vegetables to meet the demand for vitamins & minerals in your body.