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Baby's Teeth - Good Teeth for Life
How can I help my baby have healthy teeth?
During pregnancy it is really important for you to have a dental check-up to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy. This is because babies are not born with the decay causing bacteria (germ), it's passed to them, from others, especially parents. This can happen through kissing, food tasting and cleaning their dummy in your own mouth.
- Really good cleaning of your own teeth and gums every day, will help to stop the passing of this bacteria (germ) and help keep your baby's teeth healthy.
- As a parent, have regular dental check-ups
When will my baby get their teeth?
The teeth will usually start to come through between 3 and 15 months of age. Usually the front teeth come through first, the back ones later. By the time your baby is two and a half years old all of the 20 first teeth should have come through.
- When your child is about 6 years old, new teeth called the "six year old molars" will pop up at the very back. These new teeth are adult teeth that have to last for the rest of your child's life.
What will I do when my baby starts to get teeth?
A soon as baby's teeth begin to come through clean them with either a small toothbrush or a clean face washer. Be sure to do this at least once a day.
How can I help at teething time?
Giving your child something cold to chew on helps - you could try using a teething ring from the fridge. If you give your child teething rusks make sure they don't contain any sugars and stay with them while they suck or chew them.
First teeth are very important because they:
- Allow your baby to chew more solid food.
- Help in the development of your baby's speech.
- Make baby look good.
- Keep space for when the adult teeth are ready to come through.
What causes holes in my baby's teeth?
The biggest cause of holes in babies teeth is putting them to bed with a bottle that has a sugary drink, or fruit juice, or even milk in it - in fact anything but water. This can cause what is called "bottle caries". Letting your baby walk around with these drinks in a bottle, or a training cup, all day also causes holes.
Why?
The sugary drinks, or milk or juice lie around the teeth all night, and maybe all day, slowly rotting the teeth away. This can happen so quickly (maybe just a few months) that the teeth may look like they have come through rotten because the decay starts near the gum. We could call this toddler tooth decay,
Remember this:
- Use the bottle only for nourishment.
- Once fed take the bottle away.
- Encourage your baby to use a cup as early as possible.
- Clean your baby's teeth every day.
- Please don't let your baby eat lollies and sugary foods between meals.
- Take your baby for a dental check-up when they are about two years old.
- Remember to keep your own teeth and gums healthy.
How can I stop my baby getting holes in their teeth?
By following the checklist below, you will help your baby have health teeth for life.
- Use the bottle only when your baby is hungry. When they have had enough to eat take the bottle away.
- Encourage your baby to use a cup as early as possible
- Please don't let your baby eat lollies and sugary foods between meals - although something sweet at the end of a meal is OK. It is a good idea to read the labels on all foods to see how much sugar they contain.
- Clean your baby's teeth every day.
- Look in your child's mouth regularly to check for any problems.
- Take your baby for a dental check-up when they are about two years old.
- Remember to keep your own teeth and gums healthy.
If you don't have fluoride in the water supply you should ask your dentist or dental therapist for advice on other possible ways to provide enough fluoride to make your child's teeth tough.
When teaching your child how to brush their teeth, seat them on your lap facing away from you and brush their teeth from behind - using a small soft toothbrush and junior toothpaste.
Should I let my child clean their own teeth?
- Brush every day, using a small, soft toothbrush and only a very small amount of toothpaste - just a smear for babies and increasing to the size of a small pea when your child is about 6 years old.
Where Can I Get More Information ?
Talk with your family dentist or look one of the following Web Sites:
The habits your children learn as babies will help them keep their teeth for life. Good habits promote good health.
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