Being a parent is no easy job. From being responsible for homing and feeding your child to worrying over every little aspect of their health, parenting is enough to overwhelm just about anyone. One of the issues that we hear most frequently has to do with baby teeth. How do you care for them, and when should you start paying attention to them? Is there anything special you should do to ensure that your child has a full, healthy set of teeth throughout their childhood? Let’s take a look at what Colorado Springs dentists think.
1. Dental Care Starts with Gum Care
Before you even start to think about brushing your child’s teeth, you should be taking care of their gums. This includes even before you see the first tooth begin to emerge. You can do this by taking a soft piece of gauze or washcloth, moistening it, and running it gently over your baby’s gums twice daily. This helps remove bacteria that can damage an infant’s teeth as they come in.
2. Brushing Baby Teeth
Once your baby has teeth emerging, you can use a toothbrush. Pick one that is soft, has as mall head, and has a large handle to make it easy for you to control. You can use a tiny amount of toothpaste at first – an amount the size of a grain of rice. Once your child is three years old, you can start to use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. At all ages, make sure that you very gently brush your child’s teeth.
3. Keep an Eye Out
Supervise your child’s toothbrushing process until they can hold the brush and reliably spit and rinse without help, typically around age six. After that, make sure to keep an eye out for signs of decay, including pits or spots of white or brown on the teeth.
For more information about how to care for your child’s teeth, reach out to a Colorado Springs dentist today! The team at Crossroads Family Dentistry can help.