Importance of Oral Care for Babies and Toddlers

 

Your baby's teeth start growing while you are still pregnant, and they come out with some of the primary teeth which start to grow. Misconceptions are claiming that a baby's teeth use nutrients to grow that comes from a mother's teeth. This is not true. It rather depends on the mother's calcium intake and nutrient capacities.

Teething facts:

Teething causes discomfort in your baby’s mouth and this is normal. You can use clean fingers to rub on them gently, or give them clean cold objects to chew which minimizes the discomfort, but don't need it.

How to ensure oral hygiene for your baby- why is it important?

        While they still don’t have proper teething, use a clean damp cloth to clean their mouth as they lie down on your lap. This ensures that their teeth are clean and free from germs on the surface at least. Infant oral care is very important and it needs to be done only by an adult.

        As soon as teeth start coming out, use a mild toothbrush and clean their mouth. Use of toothpaste is optional. They should start brushing on their own by the age of 11. Till then, you need to help them in this process of regular cleaning.

        You can do this once a day. Be very careful not to press them too hard as the gums can start bleeding. Their nerves and muscles are still delicate, so ensure being easy on them.

        Tooth decay is normal in infants, and you need not worry. Just keep them away from high intake of sugary foods like sweets, chocolates, and desserts. Saliva is a natural defense against tooth decay. Allow it to do its job of adding nutrients to your child's teeth.

        Thumb sucking is also natural up till the age of five. It acts as a natural shaper for your infant’s teeth and helps in their proper growth. Make sure that it does not continue after five years, as teeth growth is likely to suffer from this phenomenon.

Teeth building is a natural process on its own for your baby. You just need to make sure that you regularly clean your baby's mouth and teeth until he or she grows up enough to do so themselves. A regular visit to the infant oral care clinic is recommended at an early age so that your baby does not suffer the consequences later on. Make sure that their oral hygiene is properly maintained, and they go through simple natural oral procedures according to their age.


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