Caring for Children and Infant Teeth
Why Bite Correction Is So Important
June 30, 2017Pros to Receiving Orthodontic Care
July 14, 2017Published on July 12, 2017, Updated on July 12, 2017
Most teenagers and adults know the importance of caring for their teeth, but what about when it comes to children and infant teeth? How do you care properly for the teeth before adult teeth have come in? At Hardy Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we specialize in caring for the smiles of babies and children. Even though the first set of teeth children receive will eventually fall out, it’s still very important to care for them properly. Proper dental and orthodontic care while your baby or child is young will help ensure that their smile sets up correctly as a teenager and adult. We have both orthodontic and dental services to fix bite and alignment problems as well as to combat tooth decay and gum disease. All of our services are geared towards protecting your baby’s teeth and helping a child have good oral hygiene that will stick with them for years to come. Find out the proper care for infant teeth as well as caring for your child’s smile!
Caring for Infant Teeth
How do you care for infant teeth? When should you start cleaning your infant’s gums and teeth? At Hardy Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we specialize in preventative dentistry. This means, we try to prevent problems from occurring or becoming more severe in the future. This is why we start dental services at a young age. Caring for infant teeth can help those teeth stay healthy when your infant becomes a child and later when they’re an adult. Here are some tips we have when it comes to caring for infant teeth early-on:
- Start a cleaning routine before the infant teeth come in. You can do this by wiping the gums off after a feeding with a warm washcloth to clean excess milk from the gums.
- Clean the teeth often as soon as they come in. Even though baby teeth will eventually fall out, your child will still have those teeth for several years. Baby teeth preserve the space for adult teeth that will eventually come in. When the teeth and gums are not cared for properly, those baby teeth can decay and the gums can get gingivitis. This is a gum infection that will cause the gums to be red and inflamed. It can also affect the spacing of the adult teeth when they come in.
- Feed your baby and then clean the teeth. Don’t leave them with a bottle to suck on for hours at a time as the sugars from the milk can cause cavities.
- Use a baby-sized amount of toothpaste. Generally the teeth have come in by age 2. You can start brushing the teeth with a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste to keep those baby teeth healthy and strong. Only use about the size of a grain of rice in case the toothpaste is swallowed.
- Have your baby see the dentist!
Your Infant’s First Dental Visit
The American Dental Association recommends that your infant see the dentist between the eruption of their first tooth and the infant’s first birthday. The baby teeth will typically occur between 6 months and a year. Tooth decay can begin to set in after your baby receives their first tooth, so it’s important that those teeth are taken care of. Tooth decay can cause your baby to lose a baby tooth too soon. This is the most important part when it comes to preventing tooth decay and gum disease. According to the ADA, if a baby tooth is lost too soon, the permanent teeth can drift into the space that is left. This can make it difficult for the rest of the teeth to properly grow into place. Teeth might grow into space that they’re not supposed to or they could come in crooked. Make it a habit to start cleaning infant teeth as soon as they come in and keep on top of your child’s dental exams.
Child Dentistry
Start out dental care when your child is young. This is the best way to set them up for success as an adult. We love working with children and keeping their oral health in check. When young, a child can learn how to properly clean and take care of the teeth. With the right habits and the right care, your child can grow up cavity free. This is something we want for every child. Help your child to brush and floss the teeth at least 2 times a day. You can help them brush after every meal to help solidify the habit. Some of the services we offer to the child patients we see are:
- Digital X-rays
- Laser Dentistry
- Dental Sealants
- White Fillings
- Interceptive Orthodontics
- Habit-Breaking Appliances
- Infant Frenectomies (for breastfeeding)
When it comes to habit-breaking appliances, we can provide you with appliances to help break thumb-sucking. We can also help with infant frenectomies so that your baby can nurse better and easier. All of our services are safe for each child and we ensure that your child is in a comfortable and safe environment.
Call for Your Child’s Visit
We provide free dental exams for your child’s first visit. If you have specific questions about your child’s dental or orthodontic care, or if you have questions about caring for your child’s teeth, call Hardy Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics at (720) 887-6003!