The Beginning of Dental Health Care for Kids

A child’s teeth are so important, and their long-term dental health is dependent on what happens before they even get their first tooth.

Practicing daily dental hygiene on your infant starts with gently cleansing their gums with a damp washcloth after they feed. Brushing should begin when they get their first tooth.

What about dental visits? Your child’s first visit to the dentist should be around the time they get their first tooth or their first birthday, whichever comes first. The “well-baby checkup” includes:

  • Checking for cavities
  • Showing you how to properly clean your child’s teeth
  • Recommending ways to combat habits like thumb sucking.

What to Expect When Your Child’s Teeth Come In

A child has 20 primary teeth present in their jaw at birth. Their first tooth will appear between six and 12 months. Most children have a full set of 20 teeth by the time they’re three years old. Every child is different, but the first teeth that typically come in are the upper and lower front teeth.

Pediatric Dentisty Sudbury MA
Pediatric Dentisty Sudbury MA

Babies experience gum tenderness and discomfort when their teeth come in (teething). You can ease their discomfort by gently rubbing their gums with:

  • A clean finger
  • A small, cool spoon
  • A wet gauze pad

A clean teething ring can provide some relief, too. If you’ve tried these remedies and your child is still cranky and in pain, we recommend giving our office a call or visiting your physician.

The Importance of Baby Teeth

Some people don’t think that baby teeth are that important because they’re going to come out anyway. However, a child’s teeth are vital to the health and development of their adult dentition.

Baby teeth help your child chew, speak, and smile. They also hold space in the jaws for the permanent teeth, which are growing beneath the gums, so that they come in properly.

When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space leaving little room for other adult teeth to come in as they’re meant to. The result is crooked, crowded teeth.

Taking care of your baby’s teeth now can ensure they stay in until the time that they’re supposed to come out, thereby giving your child a better chance of reducing their risk of malocclusion and needing future orthodontic treatment.

How to Care for Your Child’s Teeth

Here are some steps you can take to care for your child’s teeth from infancy to six years of age (or whenever you’re comfortable letting them brush on their own).

  • Baby: Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean, moist washcloth or gauze pad.
  • Under three years: Start brushing teeth as soon as they begin coming into the mouth. Use fluoride toothpaste (but no more than a smear the size of a grain of rice). Brush their teeth thoroughly twice a day.
  • Three to six years of age: Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush twice a day. Supervise your child’s brushing to make sure they’re cleaning as thoroughly as possible and to ensure they’re not swallowing the toothpaste.

Until you’re sure that your child can thoroughly brush all of their teeth on their own, continue to brush their teeth twice a day for them.

As soon as your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin helping them floss daily.

Specialized Pediatric Training Sudbury MA

Meet Dr. Hahm

Dr. Hahm earned her undergraduate degree in Human Development from Cornell University and her Doctor of Dental Medicine from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society for academic excellence. She completed her pediatric dentistry residency at UCLA, serving as Chief Resident of Anesthesia and Sedation, and brings extensive experience caring for children with both medical and behavioral complexities. She believes deeply in prevention, patient education, and creating a positive, comfortable dental experience for every child.

Dr. Eunice Hahm

Still Have Questions? Contact Us for a Consultation

It’s very common to have questions about taking care of your baby’s teeth, especially if you’re a first-time parent. We want to help! Our team is happy to sit down with you and answer all your questions. Our hope is to provide you with some peace of mind while giving you confidence that you’re doing everything you can to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy.

Do you have some questions for our pediatric dental professionals?

Contact our team to schedule a consultation at (978) 443-5431.

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