At-Home Dental Care for Infants

Even the youngest of patients need diligent at home dental care. If you have a new infant at home it is important that you manage their dental hygiene just as you would their overall health.

Children without teeth may not need to schedule their first dental exam any time soon – unless there is a problem of course. However it is still very important for parents to keep their little one’s gums and mouth clean and free from debris.

Start early by gently wiping your child’s gums with a warm, wet cloth after each feeding. Not only will this remove some of the sugars found in the milk or juice they are drinking but it will also help them grow accustomed to having you touch their gums and clean their mouth.

Once your baby develops as few as one tooth it is time to begin brushing at home as well as to schedule their first pediatric dental appointment. When the first tooth appears, be sure to brush it daily using a fingertip brush or other manual toothbrush that is specially designed for infant patients. Also you don’t need to bother with toothpaste at that young age, unless of course you use toothpaste without fluoride that is specially formulated for babies. Once your child has two teeth that touch one another you should begin flossing between them once a day.

Without diligent at home care, you child may become susceptible to what is called “baby bottle decay.”

Your child’s first dental appointment should occur when their first tooth comes in or when they reach their first birthday, whichever comes first. If it’s time to schedule your baby’s first dental appointment, contact the Family Dental Group today.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Hudson Valley, make an appointment.