A Parent’s Guide to Infant Tooth and Gum Care

Your baby might not be able to verbally tell you when she needs toothache relief in Renton, WA, but preventative maintenance can keep you out of the urgent care dental clinic. It’s important to get started early so that your child develops the proper oral health and dental hygiene habits and practices them throughout her life. Be sure to bring your child in to see the dentist at a young age, and avoid letting your baby fall asleep with a bottle. Read ahead for a parent’s guide to infant tooth and gum care.

Start Early

You don’t have to wait until your baby’s first teeth come in to start thinking about her oral health. It’s a good idea to rub your baby’s gums after feeding time to get rid of any food debris that might be left behind. Soak a washcloth in warm water and use it to gently rub her gums after a meal. You can also wrap gauze around your finger, but be sure to dampen that with warm water first as well.

See the Dentist

It’s recommended that you take your child to see the dentist by her first birthday or whenever the first tooth erupts. If you have a particularly tight schedule, it helps to seek a dentist that is open late rather than miss an appointment. Keep in mind that by teaching your child the right habits and exposing her to the dentist early, you are paving the way for a lifetime of excellent oral health. If you’d like to keep your child out of the urgent care dental clinic in the future, start care as early as possible.

Avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Many parents let their babies fall asleep with their bottles. If the bottle is full of milk, juice, or any other sugary beverage, you should make sure to take it away from your infant before bedtime. You may find your baby looking for toothache relief due to excessive exposure to sugars from what’s in the bottle.