Oral hygiene

Cleaning your baby’s gums
Even before your baby gets the first tooth, it is advisable to clean his gums every day. Breast milk, formula and baby foods have natural sugar that needs to be removed from the toddler’s gums after feeding. The bacteria in the mouth cannot harm the gums before the teeth emerge, but it can be hard to tell when the teeth start to push through. It is therefore important to note that when a child knows that mouth cleaning is part of the daily routine, it is easier for him to transit into tooth-brushing, hence preventing tooth decay and gum diseases later in life.

Risk factors such as having the bacteria Streptococcus mutans passed from a mother’s dental cavities to her infant within the child’s first two years of life must be considered when determining the oral hygiene strategy for your baby. Early Childhood Cavities (ECC)—more commonly known as baby bottle tooth decay—is a condition that affects children up to the age of three or as long as they use a bottle. Although rare, ECC may indicate the potential risk for severe tooth decay when the child develops adult teeth. In addition to early oral hygiene, you may be able to help decrease your baby’s risk of developing cavities if you:

• Do not share utensils, cups, or toothbrushes since that might help spread the bacteria that can cause cavities from the mother to the baby.
• Avoid giving your baby too much fruit juice and none at all before six months.
• Give your baby fluoridated water and fruits. Bear in mind that many brands of bottled water do not have added fluoride.
• When his teeth start growing, do not let him fall asleep with a bottle of formula in his mouth.

Prevent the decay of his teeth by:

• Offering a pacifier rather than a bottle during naps and bedtime.
• Consulting your dentist for advice on how get fluoride for your child, if it is not available through your water supply. Fluoride is recommended for strengthening teeth and may also prevent tooth decay.
• If using a bottle during sleeping time, fill it with only pure water.

Cleaning baby gums

• Lay your baby on your lap with the head close to your body. If it is easier for you, you can also lay your baby on a secure surface and stand next to him or her to clean his or her gums.
• Wet a wash-cloth in cold water to make it damp, but not dripping wet.
• Wrap the wash-cloth around your finger. Tickle the bottom lip of your baby’s mouth to make him open his mouth if he does not do so automatically.
• Gently rub your cloth-wrapped finger over your baby’s gums. Start all the way on one end of the bottom gum and continue across until you reach the other end. Repeat the procedure for the top gum.
• Clean your baby’s gums at least twice a day. Better still, clean them after every feeding.

Cleaning baby’s first teeth
The average infant gets their first tooth at about six month, but it varies largely due to genetics as some babies get the tooth between three to 15 months. One in every 2,000 babies is born with one or more teeth referred to as natal teeth. Natal teeth are usually not firm and are removed to make way for the baby teeth. Those that appear in the first month are referred to as neonatal teeth.

Drooling, being extra fussy, gumming or biting, low appetite, feverish, changes in bowel movement, red or swollen gums and the need to chew things are some of the symptoms of teething. Usually, gum massage with a wet cloth or giving the child a teething ring eases his or her discomfort.

After getting the first tooth, the usually continues to grow more every three or four months. This continues till he gets all the 20 by the age of two-and-a-half years.

Brushing of the first teeth is not necessary. However, cleaning them is important. A warm moist washcloth can wipe them clean before going to bed each night. Once the child acquires several teeth, a soft infants’ brush can be used instead, with water only. Toothpaste is not necessary until more teeth are in place. Using nonfluoride toothpaste is recommended until child is old enough to spit out toothpaste, usually around the age of two to three years.

Baby teeth
Why the fuss over baby teeth if they are just going to fall off anyway? It is simple. A good oral or dental hygiene habit learnt early can help prevent huge dentist’s bills or loss of teeth later in life.

The first teeth are usually the lower incisors—the two front teeth. By the age of three, children should have their complete set of 20 pearly whites. When the first teeth start to appear, buy a toothbrush designed for the age of your child. There are different types of baby toothbrushes in the market; so choose one that is right for your child. Usually, the differences in age and bristle strength are indicated on the package.

Many brands of children’s toothpastes are available in the local supermarkets. However, when in doubt, consult a pharmacist.

You should wait until your baby is two years old to use fluoridated toothpaste.

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