Oral Hygiene For Toddlers

As your child begins to get their first teeth, it’s both a wonderful and a challenging time. Challenging because teething hurts and children are rarely quiet when they’re in pain. It’s wonderful, too, because it means that they’re growing up and eventually you’ll be able to feed them solid food and watch them explore the world of flavors and textures.

Teething also brings with it a new responsibility. Those new baby teeth need to be taken care of. Here are a few points for children oral care, to be noted by new parents:

The baby’s gums need to be cleaned

Taking care of your child’s teeth actually begins even before they get them. The first step is to clean their gums with a soft cloth.

Simply place a clean cloth or small gauze pad on your finger. Wet the gauze or cloth and carefully wipe it over your child’s gums. Be gentle. You want them to perceive the experience as a positive one. This should be done once a day, usually at the end of the day.

Generally, the bacteria in your child’s mouth cannot harm their gums. However, this step sets the stage for tooth brushing and it ensures that when those first baby teeth begin to emerge, the gums will be clean.

Once those first baby teeth begin to emerge, you can switch out the gauze for a small, soft toothbrush. Place a small amount of toothpaste on the brush, just a smear or a small dot. Brush their new teeth on both sides twice a day. If you can, try to brush your baby’s tongue too. There’s no need to rinse. However, a sip of water afterwards is okay.

Even babies have risks to their teeth, gums, and mouth. It’s important to begin taking baby steps towards children dental care and oral hygiene right from the beginning.

To get expert guidance from a children dental hygienist in Vaughan, call us today: 416.835.5002 or visit the Maple Dental Hygiene Care website to book an appointment.