Being a new mom is a feeling like no other. You suddenly find yourself on top of the world with so much excitement and so many things to look forward to. But then, it comes with a lot of responsibility too. Your whole focus is now shifted to the wellbeing of the baby. Every step you take is aimed at raising the little one by paying attention to their health needs. You thus start caring for their oral health at an early age so that they grow up with disease-free teeth and gums. You also search for right advice for giving the best possible care to your baby’s mouth and teeth.
Here is the new mom’s guide to your baby’s oral health –
Start cleaning the baby’s mouth from the day one
A lot of parents wait for the first teeth to emerge to start oral care for the baby. They are wrong because waiting that long is fraught with oral risks. If you don’t clean your child’s mouth from the very start, it could lead to a variety of oral health issues. Even dentists recommend mouth cleaning from as early as possible even without having to wait for the first tooth to emerge. If you are late to the mouth cleaning, it might lead to dental problems of one or another type when the child grows into an adult.
Clean your baby’s gums daily
As a parent, it’s your responsibility to clean your child’s gums daily without ever failing. Not doing it may help invite oral or dental problems in plenty over time. You can use a little toothbrush for cleaning, and the best way is to use a soft cloth soaked in water for zero harm. The gums should be cleaned after each meal as it prevents plaque and bacteria to form from the early stage itself. Daily oral care for the baby is as important as for adult and you should follow the expert advice to great dental health in future.
Know the risk of ‘baby bottle tooth decay’
Baby bottle tooth decay occurs to those children who are sent to the bed with a bottle. This problem can strike no matter when the bottle is of milk or juice. Because exposure to teeth can always increase the risk of cavities and you should understand that well. So, it’s time to change the strategy a wee bit and not let the baby go to the bed with a bottle in mouth. This problem is easily preventable and more importantly, why would a sane parent want their child’s mouth to be exposed to sugary content for much longer?
Allow them only water to drink before bed
Some parents think that letting the child to bed without a bottle of milk is like compromising their health and nutrition. Well, they can’t be more wrong as this comes with cavity risk. The only thing parents can give to their baby before bed is water, nothing else. Even if you want to give them juice, it has to be watered down to neutralize its acidic content and prevent dental harms. The best case is to allow only water and let no dental problems trouble them in future.
Take your baby to a pediatric dentist every 6 months
It would be a mistake to take your child to a dentist only when they are adults. This won’t help as pediatric dentists are specifically trained to care for children’s teeth. With them, you can expect the best queens dental care for your child. More importantly, you need to take your child to the dentist every 6 months or so to help them stay on top of their dental health.