One of the sweetest milestones for a baby is the first time you see them smile. With that smile comes the responsibility of taking care of their teeth and gums. We asked the experts when to bring your baby to the dentist for the first time, what you can do at home to keep their whites pearly, and how to develop good habits from the start.
THEIR FIRST DENTAL VISIT
As soon as you see your baby’s first tooth come through the gums– and no later than age 1–you should bring them to a pediatric dentist, says Timothy P. McCabe, DMD, a pediatric dentist with Westfield Pediatric Dental Group. “You will learn how to brush your child’s teeth, prevent decay, and diet recommendations. [You will] discuss growth and development, trauma management skills and what to expect as your child grows. We provide foundations for a lifetime of healthy dental habits,” he says.
ORAL HYGIENE HABITS
Early oral care habits are super important, says McCabe, such as routinely wiping your baby’s gums, teeth and cheeks after feedings. “This not only keeps the mouth clean, but also stimulates the nerves and muscles of the face, which make speech, feeding and brushing easier as your child grows,” he says.
As you see more teeth come in, make sure you brush and floss them, even though they are baby teeth, and even though they eventually fall out. “Maintaining healthy baby teeth allows for proper growth and development of the jaws, speech, esthetics and general health,” he says.
KEEPING CAVITIES AT BAY
A cavity is the breakdown of enamel from acid, sugar and bacteria. “Everything we eat, healthy or not, has a negative effect on teeth. Food sticks to teeth and releases acid, which erodes the teeth. Holes form and harbor more bacteria. The tooth continues to break down until it is restored by a dentist,” McCabe explains.
Dennis Lam, DDS, with Gallery of Little Smiles in Florham Park, says this is one of the most common topics parents ask him about.
“[W]e all know that baby teeth eventually fall out,” he says. [But] things can get a lot worse if a decayed tooth is expected to remain with a child for several years, as opposed to a few weeks. Untreated decay can develop into an emergency infection that spreads outside of the tooth itself. Untreated decay can also affect other teeth around it, turning one cavity into multiple cavities.
“And untreated decay might lead to chronic decline in a child’s quality of life. For example, a toothache that comes and goes may not stop your child from making it through the day, but it can hamper their performance at school and affect their mood, ability to focus, or sleep quality,” Lam says.
That means you need to be careful with what you feed your baby. Lam says that even pureed baby food can be troublesome because it coats the teeth and gums. “Cavity-causing germs can be found in infant mouths just the same as in adult mouths,” he says. He advises against juices because they are sweetened, and the tartness of the fruit juice is acidic, causing a further breakdown of teeth.
And bottles at bedtime can lead to tooth decay, too, because the sugar from the milk will lay on teeth–as does breast milk. McCabe recommends wiping the teeth after every feeding, and brushing teeth before bedtime, to prevent “baby bottle rot.” He says the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says to eliminate nursing and bottle feeding by 12 months of age, to help out.
THE BOTTOM LINE ON FLUORIDE
Fluoride reduces the risk of cavities by remineralizing teeth, but most of New Jersey’s water does not have fluoride. So, McCabe’s suggestion is to brush twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste starting at age 1. He says kids under 3 only need a grain of rice-sized smear of toothpaste to get the job done; kids ages 3 to 6 years old can use a pea-sized squirt.
PACIFIER POINTERS
Pacifiers can work wonders toward soothing children, and can actually decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and ear infections in babies up to 6 months old. McCabe notes that orthodontic-type pacifiers cause fewer dental issues than conventional-shaped pacifiers. “The broader, flatter orthodontic bulb does not create a V-shaped top jaw and does not restrict the width of the top jaw as much as conventional pacifiers,” he says.
And you may not know: Pacifiers come in different sizes, so upgrade the size as your child gets older.
But, they can reshape your child’s gum pads and jaws, and increase the risk of ear infections, McCabe warns; with Lam adding that they also can cause an open bite, and in turn cause problems with speech, feeding and even breathing.
The same goes for thumbsucking, Lam says.
Children over 18 months old, or who have their canines and molars in, should stop using a pacifier to avoid delayed speech patterns.
Overall, McCabe says to make every effort to make dental hygiene fun. “You are shaping wonderful routines and happy memories,” he says. “Going to the pediatric dentist is fun and should not be feared. Parents might even have fun, too!”
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Read More:
A Step-by-Step Guide to Kids’ Hygiene
How to Handle Every Kind of Dental Emergency for Your Kids
Here’s How to Find the Right Pediatrician For Your Family
Here’s How to Recognize the Signs of Postpartum Depression
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