Dental News

Everything You Need to Know About Dental Care for Teething Infants

April 2, 2018

Everything You Need to Know About Dental Care for Teething Infants

As a parent you want nothing but the best for your child. Whether it’s your first child or you’ve had others and never known what to do about teething, today California Dental Group is here to help you understand what you can do. One of the first things to know is that their oral health care begins before their first tooth comes in.

Dental care before teeth begin emerging

When your baby is toothless, it’s fairly easy to keep their gums healthy. The key is to clean them every day. Don’t use a toothbrush since there are no teeth to clean. Their gums at this point are very delicate and can’t stand up to even the softest of bristles. Instead, grab a wet washcloth or wrap a piece of gauze around your finger. Then gently rub your child’s gums. The purpose is to get rid of any bacteria and to get off residue that may be there. Doing this daily can also make it easier to translate into actually brushing when your child gets older.

Dental care when your child is teething

Teething is painful for your child and can be challenging for you. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to keep their teeth clean. First, keep their new teeth clean. It may be difficult to get a brush into their mouth when they’re in pain. If you have issues with that, then grab a wet, cold washcloth and rub their teeth down. When you’re done, let them chew on the cloth. This can help reduce inflammation and soothe their gums.

The other thing you’ll be focusing on is reducing their pain. There are a few over the counter options for this but there are some do-it-yourself options too. In short, you want to give them something cold to gnaw on. Options include frozen fruit that you cut up, as long as you cut them up small enough that if your child accident swallows it they won’t be in danger. A frozen whole wheat bagel is another great option. If they’re in a lot of pain, then grab some baby pain reliever or topical numbing ointment, as long as it’s approved by their doctor.

Dental care after your child has teeth

Once your child has their full set of baby teeth then you’ll need to start bringing them to a family dentist twice a year. They should also be brushing at last twice a day and flossing once a day – just like you. In fact, it’s a great idea to start family brushing as a family activity.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that since these teeth are temporary, they’re not essential. This isn’t true. The way your child’s teeth develop can affect their speech and communication – not to mention their overall health. If your child doesn’t yet have a dentist, reach out to California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment with a California dentist.

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