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Keeping Your Baby’s Teeth Clean

Baby’s don’t have very many teeth. There are only 20 primary teeth already present in the jaw that start to erupt around 4 to 6 months after birth. But it’s still important to get into good habits early and keep them clean. Here are a few simple tips on how to do that.

The first few days…

You can start good habits by gently wiping your baby’s gums with a warm, soft, damp cloth after each feeding. This will get you and your baby into a cleanly routine, and remove any buildup of formula or milk. Even breast milk can decay teeth, so it’s best to get into this habit early.

When teeth begin to erupt…

Even if your child has just a few teeth, you should still brush them twice a day. Use a child-sized toothbrush and a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste – about the size of a grain of rice. This will ensure that tiny teeth are being cleaned, but that the child won’t ingest a large amount of toothpaste. Brush your child’s teeth gently until you both feel comfortable with them brushing on their own.

Before their first birthday…

You should schedule a dentist appointment with a pediatric dentist when your baby’s first tooth erupts. The appointment should take place within the first 6 months of the tooth appearing, but it should also be before the child’s first birthday. These first appointments are important because they establish a relationship between doctor and child, making it a more familiar experience and starting them on the right foot with their oral health.

At about 3 years of age…

Now that your child is a bit bigger, move up to a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Be sure that they understand to spit the toothpaste out after they’re done brushing. And ensure they’re familiar with and, to best of their ability, are using a proper brushing technique. When teeth begin to touch, it’s time to start flossing. Check with your dentist on the best brushing and flossing techniques for your child.

When choosing your baby’s dentist…

Consider San Diego dentist, Dr. Libby of Libby Dental. He and his team are a group of skilled professionals committed to education and non-invasive dental techniques. Their first step with any new patient is a conversation. And when it comes to little ones, Dr. Libby wants to make sure your child is as comfortable as possible.

Call us at 619.276.6884 to schedule your child’s first dentist appointment today!

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