Dental Care for Babies & Infants

Children’s teeth begin forming before birth. As early as four months, the first primary, or baby teeth, erupt through the gums. Most children have all their first teeth through by the time they’re three years old.

Taking care of your baby’s teeth:

We have to start early; by the child’s first birthday. We also know that if you or other family members have poor oral health, your child is more at risk. Until children are old enough to form their own routine, you can do a number of things to help them and teach them good oral care habits:

• First dental visit: As soon as the first tooth appears!
• Limit the child’s sugar intake. At around 8-9 months, replace one bottle with a ‘sippy’ cup. If you put your baby to bed with a bottle, make it water, not milk, so as to ward off ‘bottle caries’.
• Usually, ensuring they drink enough water will give them adequate fluoride.
• Teething: When your baby is teething, offer him or her something cold to chew on, and gently rub the gums with a clean, moistened cloth.
• Thumb sucking: Not really a problem until after the age of 3 years old. It is completely normal for a child to suck its thumb for the first few years.
• Teeth/gum cleaning: Clean gums and teeth gently with a clean soft cloth or childrens tooth brush. Use a very thin smear of age appropriate toothpaste on the brush.