What You Should Do To Care For Your Baby's Teeth

While baby teeth do fall out and get replaced by adult teeth later in life, it is incredibly important that they remain healthy. This is because baby teeth have much less enamel than adult teeth, so a cavity is more likely to decay faster than it would if it is in an adult tooth. Kids need those baby teeth for eating and talking properly, which means caring for them is incredibly important, and the responsibility falls on you as a parent. Here is what you need to know about caring for your baby's teeth.

When To Start Cleaning

You should start caring for your child's mouth even before the first tooth comes in. You should be wiping down their gums without teeth, which develops a good habit for when their first teeth come in. When you notice that the first tooth comes in, you should start brushing with a child's size toothbrush and a drop of toothpaste that is no bigger than a grain of rice. Using that small amount of toothpaste will be safe for every child.

How To Brush

You may be wondering how you are supposed to brush a child's tooth when it is just coming in. Use small circular strokes around the tooth to get all of the surfaces, just as if they were adult teeth. If your child is biting down on the toothbrush, it can help to give them something soft to bite down on that is bigger than the toothbrush. This will give you room to fit the toothbrush into their mouth and get that brushing done. 

Know To Model Brushing

As your child gets older and is capable of moving the brush around in their mouth, it will be a good idea to model good teeth brushing. Brush along with your child so that they can replicate the same motions they see their parents make when brushing. Your child is not going to get everything thoroughly cleaned and you'll still need to go back and brush for them, but it will help develop the good habits that will last the rest of their life for oral care. Even as your child becomes a toddler, know that they don't have the dexterity to brush efficiently to remove the plaque on their teeth.

Remember To Floss

Sometimes children have gaps between their teeth where they do not touch. If so, you should still take the time to floss between these teeth. Flossing is just as important as brushing when it comes to oral health, and incorporating it early in life will turn it into a habit along with brushing. 

For more information, contact a family dentist in your area.