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Dental Health for Children

Your baby’s drooling and putting anything he can get his hands on in his mouth. He’s fussier than usual and he’s not sleeping well. Could he be teething?

You may have grown up believing that their first set of teeth are not all that important because eventually they’re replaced by adult teeth. Many of us remember growing up in the days when an infant's cavities weren’t filled. Today we know that those very first teeth are important and that proper oral hygiene should begin before your baby even has a tooth!

Here are some general guidelines to help you care for your child’s teeth and gums:

• Wipe your baby’s gums with gauze or a wet wash cloth after each feeding.

• Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of anything but water; formula, milk and fruit juices “puddle” in your baby’s mouth and the sugar in them mixes with bacteria to cause tooth decay.

• When your baby is teething, biting on a cold teething ring or wash cloth can be very soothing.

• Take your baby for a first dental visit by his/her first birthday to establish rapport with the dentist as early as possible.

• After the first tooth is visible, use a small soft bristled toothbrush and warm water to brush your child’s teeth.

• At approximately two years of age, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to brush your child’s teeth twice a day.

• Start flossing your baby’s teeth as soon as he/she has two teeth next to one another that touch, but be very gentle!

• Follow your dentist’s recommended schedule for checkups and cleanings.

Just as with spinal care and chiropractic visits, the earlier you start proper oral hygiene and dental care, the better it is for your child. Routine chiropractic adjustments maintain your child’s spine and nervous system function; routine oral hygiene and dental care maintain your child’s teeth and gums. Both are important to start your child on the road to optimal health… for a lifetime!