Tips For Children

Starting early with good oral hygiene habits and dental care will help protect your baby’s teeth for years to come. The American Dental association recommends that you take your child to the dentist no later than his/her first birthday.

Here are a few tips to help keep those baby teeth healthy at home:

  • Wipe out your baby’s mouth every day with a soft wet washcloth. We recommend doing this even before any teeth have erupted.
  • When a tooth/teeth have erupted, start brushing these teeth with a small, soft bristle toothbrush made for children.
  • Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day – in the morning and before bedtime.
  • For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Supervise children’s brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.
  • Feed your baby healthy snacks, such as cheese, yogurt or fruit. These foods will help build strong teeth, unlike candy, soft drinks and sugary fruit juices.
  • When putting your baby to sleep, do not give your baby a bottle of milk or juice. We understand this will soothe the child, but the sugars in these drinks will stick to the baby’s teeth while asleep. The sugars then develop into acid which cause tooth decay.
  • Likewise, do not give your baby juice until he/she is 6 months old. We recommend only giving your baby 4-6 ounces of juice a day, with a meal, and not in between meals as a snack.
  • If your baby has white spots on his/her teeth, make an appointment with your pediatric dentist. These white spots are often signs of tooth decay and the development of a cavity.
  • Along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend that your child have his/her first dental visit by his/her first birthday!
Download Our Handy Guide To Baby Teeth!

Dental Health During Pregnancy

It is important to keep in mind that healthy habits begin before baby is even welcomed into the world. Mom must practice good hygiene habits during pregnancy to ensure that her own dental health as well as baby’s is as great as can be!

Remember, dental work should not be delayed because of pregnancy. Most of the time, existing issues can worsen due to the change in hormones and possible lack of time to care for yourself.

Prevention is the key to staying healthy during our pregnancy –

  • Continue brushing and flossing twice a day
  • Regular check ups with your dentist as well as hygiene visits
  • Be aware that there may be some normal changes in your mouth including red, swollen or sore gums.
  • If dealing with morning sickness, rinse with water often to help keep the teeth clean.
  • Eat right for you and your baby – baby teeth start developing at 3 months in the womb.