TAKING CARE OF YOUR BABY’S ORAL HEALTH

Your baby may have just born and you may think there is no hurry but his or her oral care starts right from that time if you want your kid to stay away from cavity problems. It is essential that parents should start taking care of the tiny mouths and gums of the little ones early so that they can steer clear of potential oral issues that can arise afterwards.

For the new parents, this may seem to be a bit overwhelming to care for the infant’s mouth added to the other responsibilities that they have towards the baby. According to research, over 40 percent of the kids between the ages of 2-11 years have tooth decay while dental cavities are found in over 20 percent of these kids.

But fret not! That is why when it comes to your kids’ ora

Vital Tips to Take Care of Your Baby’s Oral Health

l health a little amount work on your part can do a lot for a great oral health for your babies and the earlier it starts the better for you. Here are some fabulous tips with the help of which you will help you to take the best care of your kids’ health. Just read on.

• Breastfeeding Is Ideal for the Babies – During the first 6 months, the baby’s main food must be breast milk. If the breast milk is not possible then one can go for the infant formula. Once the feeding is done you should remove the baby immediately from the bottle or breasts. Regarding the advice and support related to the breastfeeding, you should seek help from your child’s health and maternal nurse.
• Clean the Gums and Teeth of the Baby – Even before the first teeth appear, there are ways in which you can take good care of your baby’s gums and teeth. After your baby has eaten you can use a damp cloth or a wet and warm washcloth or a damp gauze piece that you can wrap around your finger for cleaning their mouth. Usually, around the age of 6 months, your baby’s teeth can start to erupt. You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a wet washcloth to clean the first teeth. You should also not forget to clean the gums. This prevents the build-up of plaque that can lead to tooth decay. At around 18 months of age, you can use a peanut-sized amount of toothpaste at the time of brushing the teeth of your baby. Your child shouldn’t rinse it even though he or she may just spit it out.
• Keep Out the Unhealthy Objects – What goes into the mouth of the baby is another thing that you should be careful about in order to maintain the oral health of the little one. Cavities and tooth decay are caused because of bacteria and hence considered as an infection. If the unclean objects make it into the mouth of the baby, these can occur.  You can reduce the number of bacteria entering your kid’s mouth by never sharing anything that you have used or anything that has gone into your mouth like toothbrushes and utensils. You can protect the mouth of the baby by rinsing the bottle nipples and pacifiers with not saliva but water.
• Go for Healthy Drinks and Food for Them – Healthy diet is also part and parcel of the oral care regime of the babies. At around 6 months of age, they can go for solid foods and that can be of a wide variety similar to what the rest of the family are consuming. For the dental health, the right snack choice can go a long way.  The potato chips, white bread and refined starchy foods can have detrimental consequences for the baby’s teeth. Chewy and sticky foods should also be avoided as they contribute to the plaque build-up. In the same way, fruit juices should also be avoided for the high sugar content. Sticking to milk and water is the best option in this case.

Apart from the above, you should also take your toddler to a dentist within six months of the eruption of the first tooth or prior to their turning 1-year-old, whichever comes first. The initial visits to the best dentist at the most reputed dental clinic in Chennai can turn out to be quite informative and you can ask him or her about any concern that you have so that you can take better care of your little one’s oral health and make sure they can smile confidently throughout their lives.

About the Author

Iftekhar Tabish has been associated with a renowned dental clinic since many years and now he pens down his extensive knowledge that he gathered working as a dental professional to help and guide people who want to know more about their oral health.