Did you know that proper formation of teeth leads the way to good facial features and clarity of speech? You must take good care of your baby’s dental health for her future.

Tooth decay can begin from as early as the appearance of the first tooth. In fact, the stage for tooth decay can be set even before a tooth becomes visible. It is important that you take care of the oral hygiene of your child from the first few days of his birth. This post will take you through the basic steps of oral hygiene that will help prevent decay and disease in your child’s mouth.

Day one to six months

• Wipe your baby’s gums with a soft cloth after every feed.
• Clean the baby’s tongue regularly with a soft cloth or a tongue-brush meant for infants.

Six months to a year

The first tooth of your baby will appear somewhere after six months and before her first birthday.

• Start brushing your baby’s when she gets her first tooth.
• Do not let the baby sleep with a bottle containing anything other than water.
• Brush the baby’s teeth before she goes to bed.
• Discontinue breast feeding by the time he is one year old.
• Replace the bottle with the cup; this helps prevent nursing caries.

A year till the appearance of all primary teeth

Once your child gets all her twenty primary teeth, you need to start taking care of her teeth the way you would take care of yours.

• Apart from daily brushing, floss your child’s teeth regularly.
• Give your baby a balanced diet.
• From the appearance of all her primary teeth, take your child to the dentist every six months.
• Start imbibing healthy eating habits in your child.
• Teach your child to rinse her mouth after every meal or snack.

Dental health in children leads to proper jaw growth, helping define the child’s facial features. Tooth decay during childhood can cause several teeth problems in your child’s adult life. Imbibe good dental and healthy eating habits in your child from the very beginning.

Happy smiling!

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