7 How to care for baby teeth properly and safely & bull; hello healthy

In the early stages of growth, it is very important for you as a parent to get into the habit of caring for baby teeth regularly and appropriately. This is useful so that babies avoid various dental health problems, which will affect their growth and development.

How do you care for baby teeth optimally and carefully, without having to injure the gums and teeth that are just starting to grow? Come on, see the following reviews to find out the full review.

When is the right time for you to care for baby teeth?

In fact, the stage of teething of a baby starts when he is in the womb. Therefore, it is important to always maintain the nutrition of pregnant women so that the growth of the baby's bones and teeth runs perfectly. One of them is by consuming food and drinks that can meet the needs of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamin D.

However, these teeth still do not appear when the baby is born. Quoted from Stanford Children's Health, generally baby teeth, known as milk teeth, begin to grow at the age of 6-12 months. Teething in a typical baby is characterized by swollen and reddish gums that cause pain, so he tends to be more fussy.

The two front incisors in the lower jaw are usually the baby's first teeth, followed by the two front incisors in the upper jaw. These baby teeth will continue to grow until the age of 2-3 years and consist of 20 teeth, including 10 teeth in the upper jaw and 10 teeth in the lower jaw.

Caring for and cleaning baby teeth should be done as early as possible, even before the appearance of the first teeth. This is important for maintaining oral health. If the baby's mouth is not cleaned regularly, it will certainly increase the risk of gingivitis, infections, and other diseases caused by bacteria.

How to choose a baby toothbrush and toothpaste?

Until baby teeth first appear, you should never use a toothbrush to clean their gums and mouth. Toothbrush will only cause discomfort on the gums, so the baby will be fussy and do not like this activity.

However, after your baby's first teeth appear at the age of 5-7 months, there are two types of toothbrushes that can be used, including:

• Conventional baby toothbrush, has a shape like a toothbrush in general with the tip of the brush head is smaller and has soft bristles. This type of baby toothbrush also has a large handle that makes it easy to grip with a wide selection of colors and shapes that will attract your little one's attention.
• Silicone baby toothbrush, is a type of toothbrush with an elastic silicone material that is used on the index finger. This toothbrush has protruding sides similar to a nylon brush to help clean teeth, but still gives a comfortable feeling to the surrounding gums.

As with a toothbrush, you also don't need to use baby toothpaste until the first teeth appear. Just use clean water to rinse the baby's gums when cleaned.

Quoted from the American Academy of Pediatrics Dentistry, the use of baby toothpaste can be given if the baby's teeth have emerged. For the dose, just use a special baby toothpaste for the size of a grain of rice when you are brushing your baby's teeth.

Currently, there are also toothpaste containing fluoride which is specially formulated for babies so that it is safe to swallow. As is known, fluoride can reduce the risk of tooth decay by up to 30 percent.

Tips for caring for and cleaning baby teeth

The process of brushing baby's teeth sounds easy enough, but if it's not done properly and appropriately, it can make babies fussy and stressful for parents. Getting babies and children to care for their teeth as early as possible will have a good impact on the health of their teeth and gums in the future.

Here are some tips for caring for baby teeth, from techniques for cleaning teeth and gums to some habits that you should avoid.

1. Clean the gums with wet gauze

From the age of 0-6 months or until the first teeth appear, you can clean the gums with gauze or a clean damp cloth. Make sure your hand is clean and wrap the index finger with the gauze or rag.

Clean the gums, mouth and tongue of the baby with warm water. Rub it slowly and gently so that it still makes the baby feel comfortable.

This process can be done once a day or after every breastfeeding. Always make sure this is done in a clean and sterile manner to avoid the risk of bacterial growth in the baby's mouth.

2. Do the technique of brushing your teeth properly

After the baby's teeth emerge, you can use a special baby toothbrush and toothpaste to clean it. It is also recommended to regularly brush your teeth twice a day, namely in the morning after breastfeeding, before going to bed, or adjusting your little one's habits.

Not all babies will feel comfortable when their teeth need to be cleaned, so you need to do some techniques for caring for baby teeth like the following.

• Hold the baby in a half-sleep position on your thighs and rest his head on your chest until he is comfortable enough.
• Wet the baby's toothbrush with water and then rub it gently and slowly in a circular pattern over the teeth. To clean the areas of the gums where teeth have not yet grown, you can use gauze, a clean cloth, or a soft silicone toothbrush.
• To prevent dental caries in babies, it is also advisable to use baby toothpaste that contains fluoride in a dose only the size of a grain of rice.
• When your baby is old enough, you need to encourage him to spit out the remaining toothpaste in his mouth.

3. Avoid bottles of milk while sleeping

Some babies have the habit of consuming formula milk in a bottle or sippy cup sleep time. This bad habit will actually cause baby tooth decay known as bottle caries or teeth.

The sugar content in milk is prone to sticking to the surface of the baby's teeth which triggers the growth of bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria will convert sugar into acids which erode the surface of the teeth, making cavities.

Quoted from the Family Doctor, you should only give milk to babies by holding them. Never give a bottle of milk on the bed and let it sleep while using the bottle.

4. Limit use of feeding bottles and pacifiers

Babies can be taught to use sippy cup as a substitute for a bottle of milk from the age of 6 months. Some circles also teach babies not to use milk bottles after they are more than 1 year old.

Also, limit your pacifier use to 2 years of age. Also avoid the habit of thumb sucking, which risks changing the shape and structure of the jaw which causes tooth decay (malocclusion) in the future.

5. Avoid foods that trigger dental problems

Also avoid foods and drinks that trigger dental problems as a way to treat baby teeth in order to stay healthy. This is because baby tooth decay that is not handled properly will cause painful tooth and gum infections.

Several types of food and drinks that need to be limited, such as fruit juices with sugar, biscuits, and candy. You can replace it with yogurt or cheese products that can trigger the production of saliva to prevent tooth decay due to bacteria.

In addition, make it a habit for the baby to consume drinking water after eating. This serves to dissolve food debris that may still be attached to the teeth and gums.

6. Visit the dentist

The American Academy of Pediatrics Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend that you bring your baby to visit the doctor when the teeth first appear, around the age of 6-12 months.

This examination aims to check whether there is a risk of tooth decay in the baby. The doctor can also provide advice to prevent dental disease and advice on how to properly care for baby teeth.

Just like routine dental examinations to doctors in general, babies should also make visits every six months.

7. Routinely check your teeth independently

In addition to routine dental check-ups at the doctor, you as parents are also advised to always pay attention to the condition of the baby's teeth if damage occurs. Cavities or tooth discoloration can be conditions that you need to be aware of.

If you find these signs, you should immediately call and visit a dentist for further treatment.