Roger Mathis, DDS -- 972-393-3368
972-393-3368
RogerMathisDDS@DentistryOnline.com
Dental Care at Home
Infant Tooth Care
As soon as your child gets his first tooth, you should begin cleaning his teeth and gums after feedings with a moist gauze pad or washcloth.
When your child is comfortable with a toothbrush, brush his teeth twice a day with a special, extra soft infant toothbrush. Use a small dab of toothpaste if your child likes it and if you're sure he won't swallow it. Otherwise it's fine to brush without toothpaste.
Gently floss your child's teeth each day, and pay particular attention to areas where the teeth are close together. Regularly help your child brush and floss until he's 7 to 10 years old and able to effectively keep the plaque off his teeth by himself. After that, check his efforts occasionally.
It's a good idea to keep some disclosing tablets on hand. The dye in these tablets will stain remaining plaque a bright red, making it easy to see and thus easy to remove.
Fluoride is an important preventive tool for infants. Your dentist sometimes prescribes fluoride tablets and always recommends fluoride toothpaste and fluoride treatments in the dental office after cleanings.
The most serious dental problem for young children is called "bottle-mouth syndrome." This is tooth decay caused by the constant presence of sugars from milk, formula, or fruit juice in a child's mouth. It happens when a child takes a bottle to bed, or has a bottle for extended periods during the day. Use pacifiers or bottles of water at these times to prevent this severe decay of baby teeth, and always clean your child's teeth and gums immediately after each feeding.
Children learn best by imitation, so let them watch you brush and floss your teeth. Regular praise of their homecare efforts, together with a positive example from you, will get your child started down the path of excellent oral hygiene.