Timeline: Infant Oral Care

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, hoping you are having a lovely day:)

After last week’s discussion about how many teeth we have & if we actually have teeth as newborns, I thought it would be a good idea to start a series of reports about Oral Care within a developmental timeline. Today we will begin with Infant Oral Care.

Tooth development actually begins during the sixth week of pregnancy. As mentioned in last week’s post, at the time of birth, the crowns of the primary teeth are already finished.

Teething can start as early as 3 months. Teething may make your child irritable or fussy & may cause restlessness, drooling, or loss of appetite. Most babies do not start getting teeth until they are about 6 months old. Infant dental care is important from the very beginning. Oral hygiene begins at birth. Now a days there are many useful products out there to help with being proactive about starting Infant Oral Care. You may want to check out MAM for their oral care products & teethers. You can use a soft microfiber cloth (e.g. MAM Oral Care Rabbit) to clean the baby’s gums & get the child used to daily dental care. As soon as the first tooth is visible, things really get started. It is recommended that a child’s first visit to the dentist be either by the child’s first birthday or when he or she starts to get their first few teeth. This first visit is very important to make sure that the baby’s teeth & gums are being cleaned & cared for properly.

For babies, clean their gums and teeth (if any) every evening & after eating. This is imperative especially because of the risk of baby bottle tooth decay. Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when acid formed by bacteria on the teeth, from sugars in foods & beverages, damages the tooth enamel. This causes demineralization, & eventually can lead to a cavity.

Brushing Technique & position for Babies:

Lying down: The baby lies on the changing table or in bed for brushing. Brushing goes easier when the parent gently lifts up the baby’s lip. Start with the chewing surfaces, then the outer & lastly the inner. Brush from “red to white”, that is from gum to tooth.

Sitting or High Chair: If the baby is sitting in a high chair or your lap, it’s time for the “Hearbeat Position”. The parent is behind the baby & gently caresses the baby’s head with the left hand. It now rests against the chest & can hear the parent’s reassuring heartbeat. With the left index finger, the adult pulls the baby’s lips up & cleans with the right hand.

To avoid tooth decay, never let a child fall asleep with a bottle in his or her mouth or to nurse continuously as he snoozes. If your baby needs something to suck on to fall asleep, offer a bottle filled with water or a pacifier.

Pacifiers:

If your child uses a pacifier, make sure it is always used safely. Never fasten a pacifier on a string or necklace around your child’s neck to avoid a serious accident. Choose a pacifier that:

Is one piece rather than several parts.
Has ventilating holes on the sides.
Is large enough so that your child can’t swallow it.
Is made of flexible, nontoxic material.
Has a handle that is easy to grasp.
Always check the pacifier before giving it to your child. Make sure there are no rips or tears. If there are, replace it. Never dip a pacifier in honey or any other sweet substance before giving it to your baby. Cavities are transferable, so do not clean your baby’s paci by putting it in your mouth & then giving it to him or her.

I hope today’s Part 1 Oral Care report has been helpful to you or to someone you can share it with:) Stay tuned for next week’s Part 2 Oral Care Report: Toddlers.

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

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Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

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