Parents often don't think about oral hygiene until their baby gets her first tooth.
That could be a little too late though.
Some experts recommend that even before your baby gets his first baby tooth, that you should wipe your baby's gums with a soft washcloth or soft infant toothbrush and water each day.
This is especially important if the baby has any risk factors for later developing cavities, such as having a mother with cavities, since the bacteria that cause cavities, Streptococcus mutans, is often passed from a mother to her infant sometime in the child's first two years of life.
In addition to early oral hygiene, you may be able to help decrease your baby's risk of later getting cavities if you:
- don't share utensils, cups, or toothbrushes, since that might help spread the bacteria that can cause cavities from your mouth to your baby's mouth
- avoiding giving your baby too much fruit juice, and no fruit juice before six months, or any fruit drinks
- give your baby fluoridated water once she is six months old, keeping in mind that many brands of bottled water doesn't have fluoride added to them
- don't let your baby fall asleep with a bottle of formula or frequently nursing at night once she has teeth
In addition to learning to care for their baby's gums and teeth, one of the easiest things that parents can do for their kids is take care of their own oral hygiene and regular visit their dentist to make sure their own teeth are healthy.
Sources: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guideline on Infant Oral Health Care. Revised 2004. AAP Policy Statement. Oral Health Risk Assessment Timing and Establishment of the Dental Home. Pediatrics 2003 111: 1113-1116.
