Looking after your baby's first teeth and teaching your child to look after them independently is one of the most important things you can do as a mom, so here are 5 tips to keep your child's teeth healthy.
Good dental hygiene from a young age should mean less pain and expensive dental treatment as an adult.
But dental care begins MUCH earlier than you might think.
The early days
You should be looking after your baby's gums long before a tooth appears.
Teeth begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy, so just because you can't see the teeth doesn't mean they aren't there.
To look after your baby's gums and teeth, you need to:
- Wipe your baby's gums with a clean cloth twice day before they get any teeth
- Start cleaning your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as they come in with a soft, small‑bristled toothbrush and plain water.
- For children younger than 2, consult first with your doctor or dentist regarding the use of fluoride toothpaste
- When two of your baby's teeth touch, you can begin flossing between them.
As your baby grows, they will learn to brush their own teeth. But even this important step isn't enough to ensure their teeth are strong healthy.
5 tips to keep your child's teeth healthy
Here are our 5 tips for ensuring your child's teeth are healthy.
- Regular trips to the dentist: The American Dental Association recommends that children see a dentist by their first birthday. At this first visit, the dentist will explain proper brushing and flossing techniques and do a modified exam while your baby sits on your lap. These visits can help find problems early and help kids get used to visiting the dentist so they'll have less fear about going as they get older. Check-ups can be every 3, 6 or 12 months. Ask your dentist what they recommend.
- Brush twice a day: Teach your child the best way to brush their teeth before they start to clean them on their own. And try to make it fun for them! They should brush twice a day; after breakfast and before bed for example, and use gentle circular motions to clean each tooth individually. They also need to brush the back of each tooth and gently along the gum line. It would be a good idea to help them brush their teeth until they are at least 7 years of age to make sure they're brushing their teeth properly.
- Limit sugar intake: Sugary foods, juices and candy can erode enamel and cause cavities. Make sure you read food labels and remember that sugar may also be called sucrose, fructose, glucose or maltose on labels. 'Low sugar' or 'no added sugar' on the label does not mean that the food or drink is sugar-free.
- Healthy alternatives: Don't give sugary foods as snacks between meals and give your child milk or water when they want a drink. Keep fruit juice or squash to meal times only, or not at all, and dilute well.
And make sure to avoid soda. Also use sugar-free medicines when available. - Calcium-rich foods: Calcium strengthens your tooth's enamel and helps prevent erosion and cavities. Calcium isn't only good for your teeth, so it's a no-brainer that you need to include calcium-rich foods in your child's diet. These foods include milk, cheese, broccoli, seeds, yogurt, beans. Nestle's Klim, a full cream instant milk powder is a good source of Proteins, Vitamin D, Calcium and Iron. And you can use it for baking, cooking and drinking.
Good habits start young
It's important that kids understand the importance of good oral hygiene from a young age.
Help make brushing fun, visit the dentist regularly, give them a diet rich in calcium, limit sugar intake, and provide lots of healthy alternatives to food and drink which are bad for their teeth.