New Born Gum Care.
Dental care is important in babies as it is in adults. Gum care in kids should begin as soon as the baby arrives even before the first set of baby tooth appears. It is important to take care of baby teeth and gums because they hold spaces open for the permanent teeth to come in. Practicing healthy gum habits will also minimize and prevent tooth decay in infants and children.
Your newborn baby might take time before he/she develops the first set of milk teeth, however, it is still a good time to begin newborn gum care. Some newborn babies are born with one or two teeth(natal teeth). If this happens to be the case with your baby, make sure that you brush his/her teeth using a soft baby toothbrush. Do this a couple of pf times a day, especially after every meal. Make sure that you do this at a constant time of the day in order to develop a regular routine for your baby.
Cleaning New Born Baby Gums
Dental care for baby gums should start way before your baby’s first teeth appears. Cleaning their gums from the earliest age possible has a direct impact on their future dental health. In fact, the earlier you begin to clean those gums, the simpler it will be to develop a routine with your baby, which later on makes transitioning to the use of a toothbrush smoother. Oral care starts before primary teeth make their appearance because healthy baby gums tremendously contribute to a healthier smile in time for teething to take place.
Mouth bacteria don’t cause harm to baby gums before milk teeth emerge. Babies teethe differently and it might be difficult to identify when the first set of teeth is beginning to push through the gums especially if you are a first-time mom. Furthermore, rubbing your baby’s gums with a soft and wet cloth helps reduce the discomfort in their gums as they are starting to teeth. In addition, the more comfortable a baby is with your finger inside their mouth, the more relaxed she will be when it comes to introducing her to the use of a toothbrush.
New Born Gum Care
You can start caring for the baby’s gums by taking these steps
- Get a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze.
- Gently wipe down your baby’s gums twice a day at regular intervals.
- Makes sure that you wipe your baby’s gums after feeding her and before bedtime.
So, how do you brush baby gums before the first set of teeth comes in?
Before your baby starts to teeth, wipe clean her gums with a soft and wet piece of cloth. You can do this at any time of the day, however, try and do it at around the same time each day so that your baby recognizes it as a daily activity routine.
A baby gum brush cleans your baby’s gums before the first set of teeth appears. Many gum brushes are small in size and they can fit on your finger like a thimble. You will also find some models in a wipe form that you can wrap around your finger. Gum brushes will work best in gummy mouths with fewer teeth. Since the wiping action will handle all the cleaning, you don’t need to use any toothpaste with these brushes.
A teether toothbrush is another type of brush you can use to clean your baby’s gums. This is a nubby teether that not only cleans the baby’s mouth but also helps to relieve gum pain. You don’t require any toothpaste for this either, because the baby’s chewing scrapes and cleans the teeth on its own.
Preventing early tooth decay.
Baby teeth are at risk of tooth decay as early as the first set starts to appear. The fight against baby teeth decay should start as early as the first set appears with a couple of simple precautions which include:
- Babies aged 0-6 months should be exclusively fed on breast milk or formula.
- Never put a baby to sleep with a feeding bottle. When your baby is sleeping, there is less saliva in their mouth to protect their teeth. If the baby happens to fall asleep with a bottle of formula, juice, or milk, they might slowly drip into the baby’s mouth and soak the teeth. As a result, your baby’s teeth are a risk of tooth decay. The right time to look out for baby bottle decay and by setting a routine that they will never fall asleep with a bottle, you won’t have to depend on this technique to soothe them to sleep when the first set of teeth starts to show.
- If your infant likes a dummy, never dip it into food or liquids that contain sugar or honey. One of the main cause of teeth decay is sugar, so avoid giving your baby sugary products. After 6 months, your baby will likely start to accept solid food. You can introduce him to sugar-free food such as cooked carrots and mashed sweet potatoes which are a great substitute to sugary food. This will help you reduce the risk of gum disease. Makes sure that you also clean and sterilize the dummy before putting it in your baby’s mouth.
New Born Gum Care Benefits
- Brushing your baby’s gums and first set of teeth helps loosen bacteria that cause bad breath.
- Cleaning a baby’s gums is known to promote oral health long before the baby’s first set of teeth sprouts.
- After the first set of teeth emerges, cleaning the gums and teeth removes the bacteria that causes tooth decay. Cavities can develop on baby teeth, therefore it is extremely important that you brush well and regularly.
Conclusion
Your baby’s gums will undergo many changes during the first 12 months of life. Healthy gums will create a foundation of good gum health to similar oral health in the future. Remember to consult a dentist within these 12 months, so that can be alerted of any problems that might be affecting your baby’s gums and teeth that you might not be aware of.