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Caring for Your Infants Teeth
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Posted on 9/20/2017 by Cynthia Pelley |
 Proper oral health in the early ages of life is essential to setting your child up for a lifetime with a healthy beautiful smile.
Here are some helpful tips in caring for your infant's teeth that will help you maintain and provide them with the bright shiny smile that you gave them that they deserve.
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Before the first the first teeth erupt through the gums, take care to gently wipe your baby's gums with a warm, soft wash cloth to remove milk residue and potentially plaque. |
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Be mindful to practice healthy oral habits for yourself as well as instructing other members of your family to do so. Part of providing your baby with healthy oral care is not sharing eating utensils, as in doing so you will inadvertently transfer harmful decay causing bacteria to your child's' sterile mouth. Practicing good oral hygiene yourself, as well as others in the family, will help in preventing harmful bacteria from growing that could also be transferred to baby through those sweet baby kisses. |
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Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk, juice or any other liquid other than water (which also is not the best idea). Doing so can cause the liquids to sit on the teeth and gums of the baby for unideal amounts of time that could eventually cause baby bottle tooth decay, or bottle rot. |
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Try to discourage the use of a pacifier or the sucking of thumb. If your child insists, help them to break the habit at an early age. |
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Bring your child to the dentist early on and be sure to discuss their fluoride need with your dentist as some children require more than others. |
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Do not allow your child to use mouthwash until after age six, at which point you want to be mindful that the mouthwash does not have any alcohol in it. |
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Secondhand cigarette smoke has been shown to promote tooth decay in children so take care to keep them away from it not just for the obvious reasons, but also to protect their teeth. |
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Read up on what to do if your child knocks out a tooth that way if the situation were to prevent itself, you may have a greater chance of saving the tooth and for a successful reattachment. |
In addition to the above listed tips you should be sure that you always help your child to brush their teeth as well as flossing, taking care to show them the proper techniques to be used.
Regular routine dental exams as well as a healthy, balanced diet will all help your child to have the most beautiful smile feasible!
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (503) 235-0313 today.
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