Now, even though babies don't seem to have any teeth, babies are actually born with all of their teeth! It may seem as though they do not have any since it is hard to spot their teeth through a naked human eye, but their teeth are there! They are just hidden inside of their gums. Baby teeth start to break through an infants gums at around 6 months. Though, it is essential that you begin a proper oral hygiene care plan for your infant - even before you can see their first tooth come in! After all, you know what they say; with healthy gums comes healthy teeth!
Here's some tips you can use for your little one at home! 1. Wipe your baby's gums with a very soft and damp washcloth after feeding. Doing so helps to remove the bacteria that can cause tooth decay.
2. Once your baby's teeth begins to erupt, brush their teeth twice a day (with a fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than the size of a grain of rice) and use a soft bristle toothbrush.
3. Take the bottle that you use for feeding away from them after your child finishes drinking. This helps to prevent baby bottle tooth decay. What is baby bottle tooth decay? Baby bottle tooth decay can happen when babies drink milk, juice, or formula from bottles over long periods of time or even when they simply fall asleep with the bottle. 4. Schedule your child's first dental appointment with us before their first birthday or after you can see their first baby tooth, whichever one comes first. You can think of this visit as a well-baby visit with your paediatrician!
Tips for Establishing the Best Oral Hygiene Routine for Children
As kids grow older, their oral hygiene habits should also grow with them! Most kids will have all of their baby teeth by the age of 3. These are called their primary teeth. Baby teeth begins to fall out of their mouths around the age of 6 years old (and that is when they look forward to seeing the tooth fairy). After this stage, you can expect to see the permanent or adult teeth growing in! This is an exciting time since this stage is an indication of growing up! Some children may find gaps in between their teeth and this is completely normal. These gaps actually make room for the permanent teeth. Most permanent teeth come in by the age of 13. So, your child can expect their first molar to come in at around 13-19 months of age and they can expect their second molar to come in at the age of 25-33 months of age.
Here are some tips and tricks you can use to help keep your child's teeth healthy and strong (starting at the age of 3):
1. Use fluoride tooth paste (the size of a pea), and make sure your child spits it all out after brushing their teeth
2. Be sure that your child brushes for at least 1-2 minutes twice a day
3. Make sure your child starts flossing as soon as their teeth contact one another, or even earlier to help them practice good habits
4. Help your child brush and floss (remind your child to pay special attention to the back of their teeth) 5. Visit us or ask us for a recommended dentist that your child should see every 6 months to maintain healthy teeth
Oral Hygiene Tips for Preteens
As children grow older and their permanent teeth continue to come in, it is very crucial that they keep up a disciplined daily dental hygiene routine. This is crucial to keeping their teeth and gums healthy! It can be difficult to keep preteens engaged and interested in their oral care. So, we have created these tips and tricks that will especially aid in this process.
Try some of these tips and tricks to help keep your adolescent on top of their dental care!
1. As preteens become more aware and more cautious of their appearance, it can be very helpful to remind your preteen that good oral care will build their confidence. Taking care of your oral health will make your preteen's smile look great!
2. Remind your pre-teens to brush twice a day (with a fluoride toothpaste) for a full two minutes. Doing so will not only prevent or fight cavities, but it will also strengthen teeth and will give older kids the confidence they need of having fresh breath. A power or electric toothbrush might make brushing more fun for preteens!
3. Floss, floss, floss, floss! We cannot stress how important flossing is at this stage of their lives. Flossing is extremely important at this point as most permanent teeth have already erupted. Flossing between the permanent teeth regularly will help prevent cavities and keep their gums healthy.
4. If your preteen is engaged in sport activities, encourage your child to wear a mouth guard to protect their teeth from any injuries that can occur. It is important that your adolescent protects their teeth as much as possible to save painful tooth aches and expensive dental bills!
5. If your preteen wears braces, make sure that he or she uses a power brush and flosses very thoroughly to avoid white spots on teeth when the braces come off.
Have More Questions or Concerns?
We will be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your adolescent's oral health! Book an appointment with us today so your adolescent can get their first check up at Mclean Teeth! Discounts for new patients also apply for adolescents under the age of 18.