Your baby can grow up cavity free if you start good dental care early. You've probably noticed just how important your baby's mouth is to them. Babies use their mouth for the obvious things, like eating and communicating their needs, but also for expressing feelings, exploring their world, and for their own personal security. Here we will take you through some of the important dental milestones you will go through with your baby, and teach you some of the things you can do to safeguard your baby's dental health.

You've probably noticed your baby derives much pleasure from sucking. An important and satisfying activity which is a normal part of their development. Babies begin sucking their thumbs and fingers before they are born. Sucking actually serves an important purpose, it helps strengthen and develop the oral muscles, which in turn helps position their teeth in the proper position as they appear. Whether you choose to let them suck a thumb or a pacifier really doesn't matter. If you choose a pacifier however, be sure:

• It is designed for safety! It should be constructed in one piece of a flexible but firm non-toxic material. The nipple and mouthguard should not be separate. It should also have an easily held handle or grip.
• The mouthguard should contain ventilating holes, and the pacifier should be large enough to prevent it from being sucked into baby's mouth.
• NEVER tie the pacifier around baby's neck. Each year people lose baby's by strangulation from pacifier laces.
• Should always be kept clean. Wash it before giving it to baby, every time. If it wears out, get a new one.
• Never sweeten it by putting honey or sugar on the nipple. This can cause Early Childhood Caries, and cause serious damage to your child's teeth.

Teething

Somewhere around 6 months of age, your baby's first shiny white tooth will appear, typically in the front center of the lower jaw. This eruption of primary teeth (baby teeth) is called teething.

Minor discomfort is associated with teething, and some of the symptoms you will see include grouchiness or fussiness, sore or inflamed gums, excessive drooling, loss of appetite, a change in eating habits or difficulty in sleeping. These should not cause alarm and are to be expected. However, if your baby experiences other problems during the teething process such as rash, fever or vomiting, something else may be wrong. Consult with your pediatrician in those cases, and do not make the assumption it is due to teething.

The best thing to do to aid discomfort is to clean your baby's mouth with a damp gauze pad two or three times daily, and giving your baby a cool teething ring to chew on.

Caring for Your Baby's First Teeth

Good dental habits begin early, and by caring for your baby's mouth and teeth as early as you can, you will help baby develop good dental habits.

You should actually begin cleaning your baby's mouth with the first day of life. Wipe out the mouth with a damp gauze pad wrapped around your finger or a damp washcloth gently and massage the gums pads after each feeding and before bedtime . Hold your baby so that their head rests comfortably in your lap, this will aid stability and provide better visibility.

Begin cleaning baby's first teeth as soon as they appear through the gum. Continue to use a gauze wrapped finger or you may use a very soft bristled child-sized toothbrush. At this point in their life, it is not necessary to use toothpaste. Sometime after the first tooth comes in, and preferably not later than 1 year old, you should schedule your child for their first dental visit.

Preventive Dentistry for Your Baby

One of the most effective tools for preventing decay in baby's teeth is the use of fluoride. Fluoride, according to all sources, helps form strong teeth and prevent decay. Because the amount of fluoride needed depends on your baby's feeding habits and the amount of fluoride in your water supply, be sure and check with your dentist before adding it to your child's regimen. Combined with sealants, fluoride use can help reduce cavities by up to 90%!

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