Proper Care of Your Baby’s Teeth

by | Dec 29, 2015

Many expectant mothers in Hendricks County prepare themselves for the arrival of their baby by reading books and taking classes. But how much do you know about taking care of your baby’s teeth?

Let’s test your knowledge about the proper care of your baby’s teeth. Please answer true or false.

  1. You don’t have to brush your baby’s teeth, because they’re just going to fall out in a few years anyway.
  2. It’s fine to put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.
  3. At birth, all 20 primary teeth are present in your baby’s jaws.
  4. You should only use a rice-sized amount of toothpaste to brush your infant’s or toddler’s teeth.
  5. You don’t need to worry about flossing until all of your baby’s front teeth are in.
  6. If your child is teething, you can dip a pacifier in honey to soothe your baby’s gums.
  7. Your child doesn’t need to visit a dentist until starting preschool.

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Answers: 

  1. False. Your baby’s teeth are important for chewing, speaking and smiling. You should begin wiping out your baby’s mouth within the first few days after birth. Use a clean, moist washcloth or gauze pad to gently clean your baby’s gums after each feeding.
  2. False. Milk and juice contain sugars that can cause tooth decay. When you allow your baby to go to bed with a bottle of milk or juice, your baby’s teeth will be exposed to these sugars for a prolonged period. Over time, the bacteria in your child’s mouth will make acids that attack his/her teeth.
  3. True. Your baby is born with all 20 primary teeth within his/her jaws. However, these primary teeth don’t begin pushing through your baby’s gums until around 6 months of age.
  4. True. Use only a dot-sized smear of toothpaste on your Hendricks County infant’s or toddler’s teeth until they reach 4 years of age. Once your child is 4 years old, you can use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste until the age of 7. Follow these recommendations to avoid giving your child too much fluoride.
  5. False. You should begin flossing your infant’s teeth as soon as your child has two teeth that touch.
  6. False. Never dip your baby’s pacifier in anything sweet – especially not honey, which may contain clostridium botulinum spores that can lead to botulism poisoning.
  7. False. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that you take your infant to see a dentist within six months after your child’s first tooth comes in, or by your child’s first birthday – whichever comes first.

Schedule your baby’s first dental appointment at Danville Family Dentistry by calling 317-745-4400. And if you have any questions about your baby’s teeth or how to properly care for them, don’t hesitate to call our staff at our Hendricks County office.