How to take care of your baby’s teeth?

Do you feel like your kid doesn’t need perfect oral hygiene because their baby teeth will fall out anyway? Wrong! You are the ones responsible for their dental health and you definitely shouldn’t underestimate its importance. Remember – what they learn from you now can save them a lot of expenses in the future.

Temporary teeth have a lot to deal with. They have to bite, chew, they play a significant role in speech development and a correct bite. Not to mention that no one wants their baby to have a mouth full of blackened stumps.

The first tooth is always a big deal. Unfortunately, it’s usually preceded by sleepless nights filled with your kid’s crying (and sometimes yours, too). It’s true that teething can be quite painful, but luckily you can make the process easier with a few clever tricks. Try a gum oil, a cooling gel or a teething toy. One of the tried-and-tested methods is to place the toy in the fridge or freezer for a few hours before using it.

Tooth decay is the most common type of infection

In short, baby teeth absolutely deserve excellent care. Did you know that tooth decay is the most common infectious disease? It stresses out our immune system and endangers other teeth. A clean tooth is a healthy tooth without cavities. And preventing tooth decay is much cheaper than trying to fix the problems with the help of your orthodontist. .

So what do you need to do? It’s quite easy – brushing your baby’s teeth is pretty similar to the way you brush yours. The main difference lies in tools designed specifically for their age.

Once the first teeth come through, it’s time to start with a thorough daily toothbrushing. If your kid is under 2 years of age, you can use a finger toothbrush – a tiny toothbrush you slip on your finger. If they’re nearing their 2nd birthday, it’s time for a quality toothbrush and toothpaste.

Toothbrush and technique

Get your kid a toothbrush with a small head and straight-cut bristles which should be as soft as possible. You’ll also definitely need interdental brushes and dental floss. Baby teeth usually have quite large gaps between them, so you can wait to use the interdental tools once their second teeth come in.

With children under 6, you need to basically brush their teeth yourself. It’s important to do it thoroughly, and even after they turn 6 you need to lend some help. If at all possible, brush your teeth together so your kid can mimic what they see.

The angle you use while brushing your kid’s teeth is not important – just make sure not to apply too much pressure. Ideally use a circular motion, sometimes referred to as the “sun-drawing technique”. Most food tends to collect between the teeth and the gums. Teach your child to start with their upper teeth and then proceed with their lower teeth to prevent getting new impurities on them from above.

Once your child can handle a manual toothbrush, you can treat them to an electric toothbrush. You’ll probably find that they enjoy it significantly more.

Toothpaste with or without fluoride?

Your kid also needs their own toothpaste, because toothpaste for children has a different fluoride content. .

Fluoride is very helpful in enamel care since it provides a strengthening effect and reduces the propagation of bacteria. The problem is that children often do not spit the toothpaste out (especially if it’s tasty). High doses of fluoride can lead to fluorosis which shows up on their teeth in the form of white and later yellowish brown stains. Unfortunately, these stains are not just unsightly – they lower the tooth’s resistance to cavities.

Your kids can easily get their necessary daily dose of fluoride from widely available food stuffs. Fluoride is found particularly in fish, grains, milk and dairy, walnuts and other foods.

So, if you’re looking for your baby’s first toothpaste, take into consideration whether they’ll be able to spit it out or not.

At least two minutes twice a day

Children’s mouthwash should come into play only after your kid turns five, when you can be sure they will spit it out instead of swallowing it.

Brush their teeth twice a day, ideally for 2 minutes. You can make it more fun by using a timer – typically in the form of a simple hourglass that makes those critical 120 seconds float by before you know it.

Don’t forget to also make regular dentist appointments. The first one should happen around your kid’s first birthday, and then every 6 months after that. And make sure to never use the dentist to scare your child – dental care is a crucial part of their health and it shouldn’t be stressful.

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