A baby’s smile becomes even cuter once those first few teeth start to poke through their gums. These teeth typically begin to erupt between age six months and one year. By the time a child is three, they usually have a full set of 20 primary teeth. Usually, the first teeth come through are the bottom two and top two front teeth. Your child’s primary or milk teeth are critical for their health and development.
When your child begins to get their first set of teeth, they can begin to chew and will start to enjoy a greater range of foods, ensuring they get all the nutrition needed to continue growing and developing. Baby teeth hold open the correct amount of space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are developing underneath the gums. If a child loses a baby tooth to soon, the remaining teeth can drift towards the space. As the adult teeth try to come through, there may not be enough room for them to come in correctly so they could be crooked or overcrowded. These are all reasons why we recommend beginning dental care in Whitby early, as getting children into a good oral care routine while they are still very young can help to protect their teeth for years to come.
Scheduling an Age One Visit
Here at Margolian Dentistry, we like to see little ones by age 1 for their first dental checkup. Although they are still very young, we can check their teeth for any signs of cavities or other problems, and equally, we can talk to you about how to care for their teeth.
Our dentist in Oshawa will show you how to clean your child’s teeth properly, demonstrating the proper techniques and discussing which toothpaste and toothbrush are most appropriate. We can also talk to you about oral habits like thumb sucking, and of course, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask us! One thing we will probably want to discuss is preventing baby bottle tooth decay, which commonly affects the upper front teeth. It’s usually caused by prolonged exposure to sugary drinks, and especially if you put a baby to bed with a bottle which contains a sugary liquid or with a pacifier dipped in something sweet.
Look after Your Baby’s Teeth Right from the Very Start
Even before your baby gets their first teeth, you can start looking after their mouth by wiping their gums with a clean damp washcloth or gauze pad. As soon as their teeth appear, tooth decay can occur which is why it’s important to begin cleaning them gently straightaway. For children aged up to 3 years, you only need a smear of toothpaste to clean their teeth, but you must brush them thoroughly twice a day. As your child begins to grow up and become more independent, they will almost certainly want to begin brushing on their own but make sure you supervise them to ensure they use an appropriate amount of toothpaste.
Children aged 3 to 6 need a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste, and it’s important to remind them not to swallow the excess toothpaste. Make sure you brush their teeth thoroughly twice each day, using the techniques we can show you. When your child has two teeth that come into contact, you will need to begin flossing between them, and again, we can show you how to floss teeth correctly in Ajax.
When you begin oral care early, your baby will grow up realizing it is a perfectly normal part of life and will hopefully enjoy all the benefits of healthy teeth and gums well into adulthood.
