Oral Hygiene for infants 0-3 years of age.

Introduction

Most of the parents  are not aware of the fact that even though their newborn baby doesn’t have teeth in his mouth caries activity is always present in the baby’s mouth. This happens because, Caries = Bacteria + sugar + saliva.

The presence of teeth in s your baby’s mouth is not a must for caries activity.

Here are some ways that dentists and pediatricians recommend using in preventing  any early decay on your infant’s primary teeth:

1. Wipe your baby’s teeth and gums everyday to help prevent baby bottle tooth decay.
2. Dentist recommend baby wipes they provide the fastest, most convenient way to clean your baby’s teeth and gums everyday.
3. Wiping should occur after feedings, especially at bedtime.

Wash cloth instructions

Step 1:

• Lay your baby on your lap with his/her head close to your body. If it is easier for you, you can also lay your baby on a secure surface and stand next to him/her to clean his/her gums.

Step 2:

• Wet a wash cloth in warm water. Squeeze the excess water from the cloth, so the towel is damp, but not dripping wet.

Step 3:

• Wrap the wet wash cloth around your finger. Tickle the bottom lip of your baby’s mouth to get him/her to open his/her mouth if she does not do so automatically.

Step 4:

• Gently rub your cloth-wrapped finger over your baby’s gums. Start all the way on one end of the bottom gums and continue across until you reach the other end. Repeat the procedure for the top gums.

Step 5:

• Clean your baby’s gums at least twice a day. Better yet, clean them after every feeding.

A mouth swab or gauze pad can also be used in the same way.

Tips

• Cleaning your baby’s gums also helps him/her to get used to the sensation, which makes tooth brushing easier later on.

Other tips

• Infants should not be put to sleep with a bottle containing a liquid other than water.
• Infants should be encouraged to drink from a cup prior to their first birthday.
• Infants should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.
• Infants should start to supplement their diet with non liquids at 4-6 months of age.
• Juices should only be offered from a cup.
• Good oral hygiene should be started as soon the first teeth appear.
• Within six month of the first signs of the first tooth (no later than the first birthday) it is time for the first dental visit.
• Don’t share utensils, cups, or toothbrushes, since that might help spread the bacteria that can cause cavities from your mouth to your baby’s mouth.
• Avoid giving your baby too much fruit juice, and no fruit juice before six months, or any fruit drinks
• Give your baby fluoridated water once he/she is six months old, keeping in mind that many brands of bottled water don’t have fluoride added to them.
• The pacifier dipped in honey is another bad habit. Honey needs to be avoided in the first year of life and also soda in their bottle.

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