Although they don’t yet have teeth, infant mouth care is an essential part of overall health and wellness. Your child’s good dental health begins long before their baby teeth come in. This guide explains all the important aspects of infant oral care leading up to, and including, their first tooth.

The Importance of Oral Hygiene for Newborns

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, tooth decay is one the most common chronic conditions for children in the U.S. Also known as dental caries, tooth decay is largely preventable with good oral hygiene right from the start. Without good care, decay can begin as early as the emergence of the first baby tooth.

How to Clean Your Baby’s Mouth

You should be cleaning your baby’s mouth long before their first tooth appears. Breastmilk, formula, and food can build up in the mouth and contribute to bacteria or a fungal infection like thrush. Use these tips to make cleaning your baby’s mouth easier and more comfortable:

• Wash your hands before cleaning your baby’s mouth.
• Cradle your baby in one arm and use the other to clean.
• Use a moist cloth or piece of gauze and gently massage their gums.
• Gently wipe their tongue and the insides of their cheeks. Be careful not to stick your finger too far down their throat while cleaning the tongue.
• Clean your baby’s mouth once or twice a day.

Diet and Good Oral Health

What and how your baby eats and drinks also affects their oral health. Here are some important facts to remember when making dietary choices for them:

• Sugar in the diet promotes tooth decay and cavities. It’s best to avoid added sugary foods and drinks altogether before the age of two.
• The strongest correlation between sugar and dental caries is in children who were introduced to sugar early and who consume sugar frequently.
• Drinking fruit juice is linked to increased risk of tooth decay in babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not giving a child any fruit juice before age one.
• Frequent bottle and breastfeeding beyond 12 months have been associated with an increased risk of dental caries in babies.
  Water helps prevent tooth decay in babies when it contains fluoride, a common additive in city water supplies.

When to Start Brushing Baby Teeth

Some damaging myths about baby teeth persist. It’s important to understand the reality of baby teeth and how and when to clean them for your baby’s good oral health. Your baby is born with all their primary teeth in their jaws but under the gums.

The first baby tooth should emerge around six months of age and continue coming in until around three years. Not all parents understand the importance of this first set of teeth, assuming that because they will be replaced, caring for them doesn’t matter.

Your child’s primary teeth are like early braces. They help solidify the spacing for adult teeth that emerge later. Your child can experience tooth decay as soon as their first tooth emerges. Losing decayed baby teeth prematurely can affect the spacing and health of adult teeth.

You should begin brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first one appears. Use a child’s toothbrush with a fluoride toothpaste to gently brush their teeth twice a day. It’s also vital that your child see a dentist soon after they get their first tooth, no later than one year of age. Your dentist will help you set your child up for a lifetime of good oral health.

Lip-Tie and Tongue-Tie

Another oral health issue seen in some infants is lip- or tongue-tie. These conditions occur when the tissue (frenulum) connecting the upper lip or tongue stays fixed to the mouth, restricting movement. You might first notice this issue when breastfeeding because it makes the process more difficult.

If you are concerned about lip-tie or tongue-tie (more common), a dentist can perform a simple, minimally invasive procedure to release the frenulum. At Newtown Dentistry, we offer safe and quick laser tongue- and lip-tie release.

Contact us with any questions you have about your baby’s oral health. Make sure to schedule their first pediatric dental appointment when the time comes.