Your Baby’s 1ST Dental Check-up at Apple Dental Care
We welcome our sweet little new family members as early as right after birth! At the age of 6 months, usually the baby’s first teeth come through the front of the bottom jaw. This is the right time to get your first dental checkup. At Apple Dental Care, we provide you with post-eruptive teeth care, an eruption calendar for your kid’s teeth, brushing habits, and much more!
1) Lip or Tongue Tie
If you notice that your baby is not being fed properly, there are chances that your baby has a lip or tongue tie. This is why it needs to be checked right away by a dentist, and if required, the tie needs to be relieved as soon as possible.
2) Baby Teeth
Babies are born with 20 primary tooth buds, which develop below the gum line. These buds fully develop and usually start coming through between 6 and 12 months. Most children have their full set of teeth by 3 years old. These teeth play a very important role in jaw development, chewing, smiling, and preserving space for permanent teeth. These baby teeth fall out at various times throughout childhood. The first permanent molar comes through at the age of 6 years. It’s important that these primary teeth fall out at the right time, or else it may cause irregularities in the teeth and bite. This irregularity can be corrected with different types of teeth-straightening methods.
3) Baby Bottle & Tooth Decay
If babies are put to bed with a bottle of milk or as a pacifier, decay may take place, which is referred to as baby bottle tooth decay. Baby teeth are susceptible to cavities, which is why it’s not recommended to give the baby a bottle and put them to sleep. Even though baby teeth are temporary, they play a very important role in guiding permanent tooth eruptions.
4) Sugary Foods &Drinks
Sugary foods and drinks contribute to cavities and play a major role in tooth health, while water is calorie-free. Cakes, chocolates, juice, soda, and sports drinks are known to cause cavities. So when your child has worked up a thirst, hand them a glass of adequate fluoridated water. Also, after having food or drink, make sure they brush their teeth.
5) Keeping Teeth Clean
Parents are recommended to clean their baby’s mouth within the first few days after birth. A clean, moist cloth or cotton can be used to clean gums. Once teeth start erupting, brushing must begin. You can give the child a brush to hold, which helps them connect with the tooth brush. They might chew on it, which massages the gums and helps with teething and eruption. If brushing is not done by you after the child has tried to scrub the teeth by themselves, decay can occur. Your child can brush on his or her own; you should brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a child toothbrush and fluoridated rice-sized (below 3 years) and pea-sized (after 3 years) toothpaste.
Flossing is very important to keep the in-between parts of teeth clean & cavity-free. As adults, we need to floss twice a day. Just like that, even kids need flossing if their teeth do not have much space or once the permanent teeth start to erupt.
