Did you know that oral health care starts even before the appearance of the first teeth?
The professionals at the Centre Dentaire & d’Implantologie Boucherville are there to give you all the necessary information so you can take care of the mouth and teeth of your child.
Cleaning Starts Before the First Teeth Come Out
Even before the first teeth appear in the mouth of your child, it’s already recommended to clean its mouth and gums after feeding.
Use a moist cloth and clean the inside of its mouth gently. It’s not recommended to use toothpaste or other products.
It’s essential that you use a clean cloth, and that you use it for this purpose only. Using a dirty cloth would only cause more harm than good.
How to Avoid Cavities During Early Childhood
At that age, the inside of your child’s mouth doesn’t contain the bacteria that cause cavities. The first teeth can therefore grow in relatively good health.
However, it’s possible that the bacteria inside your mouth contaminate objects and that these same bacteria can afterward be transmitted to your baby. To avoid the risk of cavities with infants, it’s important that:
- You never use the same spoon to feed your child and taste its food
- You make sure that the baby’s toothbrush doesn’t come into contact with other toothbrushes
- You leave its toothbrush in a container, upright
- You keep a close eye on what the baby brings to its mouth.
Moreover, it’s also important to maintain good dental hygiene habits with your baby. You have to clean your baby’s teeth with a toothbrush with soft bristles at least twice a day. While brushing, use a small, rice-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
It’s Okay to Let Your Child Suck Its Thumb
It’s often said that thumb-sucking can cause dental problems. There’s some truth to this, but we should consider the full picture.
Sucking its own thumb or a pacifier provides a lot of comfort to your child. It’s an action that naturally calms babies down.
Generally, even if thumb-sucking can certainly displace or damage teeth, there’s no real consequences for letting your child suck its thumb or a pacifier.
The negative effects that thumb-sucking can have on the babies’ teeth are negligible and will disappear once they fall. The first adult teeth start appearing around age 5 or 6.
It’s recommended to stop giving a pacifier to your child around age 3. However, depending on the circumstances, a child could continue to suck its thumb until the appearance of the first adult teeth without any problem. In short, there’s absolutely nothing unusual or bad about a child sucking its thumb.
Don’t Let Your Child Snack All Day
Sugar is more dangerous for the teeth if it’s consumed repeatedly throughout the day. Generally, it’s better to feed your child during its meals, rather than letting it snack at all hours of the day.
It’s not only food that you have to watch. Fruit juices, in particular, are a significant source of sugar. Even 100% pure natural juices are bad for the teeth, because they are very sweet.
Of course, you can give this kind of juice to your child, but it’s important to do it with moderation. In the same vein, here are some things you can do to protect the teeth of your baby:
- Don’t leave your baby with its bottle all night
- Give it water often when it’s thirsty
- Pick foods that are less sweet, like cheese
Whether it be a child or an adult, good dental hygiene starts with good dietary habits.
At What Age Is the First Appointment at the Dentist?
It’s often recommended to make a first visit to the dentist when the baby reaches a year old. Nothing prevents you from going to see the dentist earlier if you have any questions about the oral health and hygiene of your baby.
For an appointment at the dentist for your child, the Centre Dentaire & d’Implantologie Boucherville is there to make you take advantage of the best service on the South Shore.