Dental Care for Babies

Does My Baby Really Need to See The Dentist?

Absolutely! It is important to introduce your child to dental care as soon as his or her first tooth appears and certainly before baby’s first birthday. Don’t wait until all their baby teeth have come in. These early visits to the dentist help to teach your child to be comfortable and not scared of the dentist. It also gives you the opportunity to get your child on the road to being cavity-free.

How Do I Care For My Baby’s Teeth?

You should brush your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as that first tiny tooth arrives. This will help establish teeth brushing as a vital daily routine. Use a small, soft bristled toothbrush with either non-fluoridated toothpaste or plain water. Don’t use toothpaste with fluoride until your child knows how to spit it out in the sink. Fluoride toothpaste should not be swallowed.

If your baby needs a drink in bed with them try to use only water. The sugars in milk, juice, formula or any other sweetened liquid forms a residue on Baby’s teeth that causes cavities. When you are breastfeeding try to wipe Baby’s teeth with a damp washcloth as soon as each feeding is finished.

When Will My Baby Get Teeth?

Children generally begin to get their “baby” teeth at about six to eight months old, however it is perfectly normal for some children to get teeth earlier or later and some are a year old before getting that first tooth! Your child will eventually have ten teeth on the top and ten on the bottom and they should all be present by the time he or she is three years old. Your child’s “adult” teeth will begin to appear between five and eight years of age and by the time they turn fourteen the whole set of permanent teeth should be in place.