 |
September is Baby Safety Month. The national month-long observance encourages parents and caretakers to focus on keeping infants safe and healthy. Good oral health in the earliest months of development plays a major role in ensuring the health of a child's permanent teeth. Below are some key dental care tips to keep your little one's smile safe and secure as he grows.
- Never let a child fall asleep while sucking a bottle that contains milk, formula or sweet fluids. Letting sugary fluids sit in a baby's mouth increases the likelihood of tooth decay.
- Limit sugary beverages. Unsweetened fruit juice, tea and water are best according to the American Academy of General Dentistry. At bedtime, choose water over milk.
- Before teeth come in, clean gums with a damp washcloth after feedings.
- Once teeth erupt, brush with water and a soft toothbrush every day. By age two or by the time a child can spit, use a pea-sized dab of toothpaste.
- Take children for a first dental visit within six months of their first tooth coming in and no later than their first birthday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
