Parents are being told that it is a good idea to start looking after a child’s oral hygiene at birth, thus lessening the risk of needing emergency dentistry later in life.
Dental Health Magazine reports that mothers and fathers should take care of a baby’s mouth before their first tooth emerges by cleaning gums with a damp washcloth to avoid infection.
Once a youngster has their first tooth, parents are advised to use a soft, age appropriate toothbrush and water and only when a child is capable of spitting should they introduce a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste, the publication continues.
“Their most vulnerable time for infection is between 6 and 31 months. Therefore, an important part of taking care of a baby’s teeth is to take care of your own,” the news provider states.
Dr Tom Hall suggested that kids should be taken for check-ups as early as possible as it introduces them to the idea or looking after their teeth and allays worries about visiting the dentist, Pantagraph.com reported.