The baby’s toothless grin is said to be the best medicine for an ailing heart. And the only thing that can surpass the incredible cuteness quotient of this is when she smiles with the healthy gums and teeth.
The healthy gums and teeth are essential for the general health of the babies as well. They are all born with a complete set of milk or baby healthy gums and teeth. When the baby is about 6-10 months old, these early teeth that remain hidden within the gums start to emerge.
This incident can occur earlier in case of some babies while later for others. Hence it is very important to take care of the gums of the baby.
The baby teeth arrive in a specific order and almost always the central bottom teeth are the ones that arrive first. By the time your child is three years old, all the 20 baby teeth usually make their appearance.
The baby teeth are replaced by the 32 adult teeth between the ages of 6 to 20 years. As you cannot replace these teeth, you have to ensure that your child’s oral health is in top order.
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But for that, you have to start early and even before the first tooth makes its appearance, you should get into the habit of taking care of their oral health. Here are some ways through which you can take care of your baby’s gums and emerging teeth. Just take a look.
- Don’t Neglect Baby’s Gums – The gums pads or the gums are one thing that is most neglected as far as hygiene of the babies is concerned. In fact, it is very crucial that you keep them healthy and clean. So, you should wipe them with a plain muslin cloth or gauze dipped in plain water. This way the food and the milk debris on the gums are wiped away easily. The good oral hygiene and the clean pads right from the very beginning will make sure that a positive and clean ambiance is created for the teeth to emerge.
- Deal with the Teething Problem – Between the age of 4-12 months, babies usually start teething and this continues till their 2nd In most cases, the front teeth appear first. After that, some babies get several teeth at a time while others get just one at a time.
If you see your baby is gnawing everything at her sight, then teething has probably begun. The teething babies can have some ear problems or can also catch a cold or feel feverish. You should immediately rush to the doctor under such circumstances.
You can also find a swelling or indentation in the gums at this time. It is likely that your baby starts to feel uncomfortable because of the teething. Under such circumstances, you should soothe the baby with the techniques you usually use like picking her up, shushing her, rubbing her belly or massaging her gums with a clean finger. You should use mild pressure for rubbing the area and can also let your tot gnaw your finger.
Teething babies love to chew on chilled things. So you can try damp washcloth, cold teething ring, or semi-frozen bagel or banana if you have introduced solids in your baby’s diet. Avoid frozen foods as that will be too hard.
If you notice unusual behavior like crying more or waking up at night frequently then you should talk to your pediatrician immediately. Do not try medications or gels without supervision as they can cause more harm than good.
- Start Taking Care of the Teeth as Soon as They Emerge – You should start taking care of the teeth as soon as they emerge. It is believed by many parents that the baby teeth are not very important as they are going to be replaced by adult teeth. But these first teeth are responsible for preserving the space for the adult teeth. Not only that, but they also help the baby to chew and assist them in their attempts to talk. These teeth can decay if they are not cared for in the proper manner which, in turn, can lead to gingivitis and gum infection that can affect the spacing of the permanent teeth.
- Avoid Baby Cavities – Brushing is crucial for your baby’s oral health as they can develop the cavities just like the adults. At first, the cavities appear as white spots on the baby’s chompers.
With progress, the cavities appear as brown or black spots on the teeth of the baby. Another sign of cavity treatment is bad breath. As said earlier, the baby teeth are important for a number of reasons and so you must protect them from cavities.
Putting the baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice is a notorious practice that can contribute towards the formation of cavities massively. So you should refrain from this and if you notice that your baby is holding the bottle just for comfort and are not feeding on it, you should immediately put away the bottle.
- Start Brushing the Teeth as Soon as the First Teeth Appear – Generally around the age of 6 months, the first tooth appears. You should start looking for a baby toothbrush with soft bristles and a soft head with grip suitable for your hand immediately as it occurs. However, you do not have to worry if your baby is healthy and still her first tooth has not sprouted after a year. Sometimes it may take 15-18 months for the first tooth to emerge. You should use a smear thin or a dot size of fluoride toothpaste for brushing the teeth. Try to follow the recommendations to avoid offering too much fluoride to your child.
For brushing, you should place the baby in a position that she feels secure in and you can see her mouth. Then with your hand, cup the baby’s chin with her hands placed against your body. Then you should clean the gums and teeth using circular and soft motions. Lift her lips for brushing the front and the back of the gum line and the teeth.
- Schedule a Dental Appointment – You must take the baby for her first dental appointment at a reputed dental clinic in Hyderabad as soon as she is 1 year old or her first tooth appears.
Remember that if you take care of the first set of pearly whites, you can establish a great oral health and good dental habits for your baby for years to come.
