3 Ways To Keep Your Baby's Developing Smile Healthy
Your baby's health is your first priority. As a parent, you want to make sure that you are building routines and habits that support your baby's wellness and development. As your baby starts to teethe, you need to start thinking more and more about their oral health. Their oral health during childhood has a large impact on their oral health as they grow up. Make sure that you start making steps for their healthy smile while they are still young. Here are three ways to keep your baby's developing smile healthy.
Schedule your baby's first visit with the dentist by their first birthday.
It is recommended to make your child's first dental appointment by their first birthday. Although it may seem strange to take your baby to their first dental visit before they even have a mouthful of teeth, this visit helps to establish a foundation to support their healthy smile. The pediatric dentist specializes in looking over your child's teeth and can advise you about any risks for cavities that come up early on. Further, they can help you to formulate a diet that nurtures your child's developing smile. Also, your baby starts to learn that the dentist is not scary if you allow them to build a relationship with their pediatric dentist.
Use a soft toothbrush to massage your baby's gums when they start teething.
Your baby reaches an important milestone when they start to teethe. At this stage, it is important to introduce tooth brushing. Use a soft toothbrush and warm water to gently massage your baby's gums. This allows your baby to get used to this important part of dental hygiene, and it also helps to keep their mouth clean. As their gums open up and teeth rupture, it is important to keep their mouth clean in order to reduce their risk of developing and oral infection.
Give your baby fluoridated water to strengthen their new teeth.
Make sure that there is fluoride in the water that your baby is drinking, as it can help to strengthen your baby's teeth. Fluoride is already introduced into the general water supply, so it is not hard to come by. Fluoride can decrease tooth decay by up to 25% in children. Further, fluoride is a mineral that helps to replace minerals that are lost in teeth. As your baby starts to chew, mechanical stresses can cause them lose mineral mass, which is when fluoride becomes important.
If you have further questions about your baby's oral health, you can always see a professional like Chen Sharon DMD PC or your local dentist.
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