Even though infants don’t start teething until they are 6 months old, dentists would advise, and for good reasons, that a child’s oral care and hygiene should be paid attention to even before her primary teeth (milk teeth) begins to come out.
It is imperative that the child’s gum be cleaned right after birth. After every feeding a soft tissue/cloth/gauze must be used to clean the gums, this stimulates the gum tissue and cleans the remnant food particles as well.
Our panel Specialist Dr. Steve Yi confirms that the following should be kept in mind when talking about an infant’s oral hygiene & care.
- Cleaning of teeth should be done by parents only. Gum pads must be cleaned after every feed.
- Cleaning tooth using an extremely soft brush  can be started as soon as first tooth erupts.
- Regular Dental checkup according dentist’s recommendation
- Most important is feeding during infancy
- at will feeding not recommended
- night time feeding not recommended
- Breast or bottle feeding should weaned by year 1
- Appropriate time for first Dental checkup is as soon as first tooth erupts or before first birthday
Dr. Steve Yi (BDS) is a dentist practicing privately in Mumbai.
- team_itemmom
- March 19, 2016
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