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Take good care of those baby teeth!
Even though they will fall out, those little chompers serve a greater purpose than temporary gnawing. Baby teeth save space for your child’s permanent teeth, and will help guide them into place. Not only do they help secure your kiddos permanent smile, but they’re great practice for developing good oral hygiene habits at an early age. Research shows that children who develop cavities in their baby teeth are more likely to have cavities as an adult!
Oral care should begin at a much younger age than most realize. Keep your kid’s smile sparkling with the following guidelines on how to nurture brand new baby teeth into beautiful, healthy gifts for the tooth fairy!
Brand New Baby Teeth.
When you can feel the impending baby teeth beneath your little one’s gums, you should start rubbing them regularly with an infant gum massager or a clean, damp cloth. You’ll also want to break out the teething rings!
When those first tiny teeth arrive, you should begin brushing daily with water and a soft infant toothbrush. It’s best not to let your tot keep a bottle in their crib with them. The sugars in milk or juice will break down into acid that will erode the tooth enamel while they sleep.
First Birthday.
By the time your child is one year old, they should have their first dentist appointment. This seems surprisingly young to most parents, but studies show that many children get cavities by the time they’re two years old! Yikes! With an appointment at such a young age, the dentist will be able to learn your child’s oral health and plan for unique needs before any complications can occur. In addition, the dentist will give you the information and the tools necessary to best care for your kid’s smile.
When those first tiny teeth arrive, you should begin brushing daily with water and a soft infant toothbrush. It’s best not to let your tot keep a bottle in their crib with them. The sugars in milk or juice will break down into acid that will erode the tooth enamel while they sleep.
Two Years Old.
At the age of 2, begin brushing those little baby teeth twice a day with children’s toothpaste. Introduce fluoride toothpaste when they’re old enough not to swallow it and start flossing when the teeth start touching! (To simplify the process, you can use a floss stick instead of the traditional string.)
A healthy diet is crucial to a healthy smile! Healthy snacks, sugar-free foods, and infrequent snacking will greatly benefit a set of young teeth. Because starchy and sugary foods can eat away at tooth enamel, serve them in meals instead of as snacks and follow each meal with a cup of water to wash away any clinging food particles.
Baby teeth typically begin to fall out between the ages of 6 and 7, but you shouldn’t be concerned if your child’s teeth follow a different schedule. Until then, there are plenty of ways you can instill healthy habits in your young tots, so they’re more than prepared to care for their grown-up teeth!