5 Infant Dental Care Tips from a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist

Welcoming a newborn is one of life’s most exciting moments. While setting up for the new arrival, it’s easy to overlook their dental health. Dental care starts long before a baby’s first tooth appears. From keeping the gums clean to establishing healthy feeding habits, early oral care is essential to establishing a strong foundation for a healthy smile.

Groat Pediatric Dentistry is excited to be your go-to pediatric dental office in San Pedro, California, and the nearby locations. Dr. Christopher Groat guides you on infant dental care to ensure your little one wears their healthiest smile from the word go. 

Infant dental care tips

Infant dental care prevents gum infections, tooth decay, bad breath, and other oral issues. Here are tips to take care of your young one’s smile. 

1. Good oral hygiene: Your child’s dental care starts immediately after birth. Gently wipe the gums with a soft, damp cloth to prevent bacteria buildup. Once the first tooth comes in, usually around six months, it’s time to start brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and clean water, with a small smear of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice).
2. Dental visits: Your child should visit us by their first birthday and keep seeing us every six months. Regular dental visits allow the dentist to monitor oral development, discuss habits like thumb sucking, and provide guidance on keeping those first baby teeth healthy.
3. Proper nutrition: Guide your child on a proper diet to prevent decay and other oral issues. Sugars and simple carbs like crackers encourage the growth of harmful bacteria, putting your child at risk of oral infections and decay. Although it’s impossible to keep your child away from all juices, soda, candies, and chocolates, ensure they don’t overindulge. Instead, introduce your child to healthy snacks like yogurt, fruits, nuts, and cheese. 
4. Watch out for poor oral habits: Thumb sucking is a natural reflex for infants to provide comfort. However, if it continues past age 4, it can cause several dental and developmental issues, including misalignment and speech issues. Talk to your dentist about prolonged thumb sucking. Similarly, bottle-feeding can pose risks to your child’s dental health when used improperly. Frequent exposure to sugary liquids, such as milk, formula, juice, or sweetened drinks, which occurs when you allow the baby to fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth, can cause “baby bottle tooth decay.” Sugars linger on the teeth, providing food for bacteria that produce acid, which erodes enamel and leads to cavities.
5. Emergency dental care: Children are naturally playful and energetic, often leading to accidents and mishaps. Whether running, jumping, playing sports, or simply being curious, their adventurous spirit can sometimes result in dental emergencies. These emergencies can range from knocked-out and fractured teeth to loosened teeth from falls, knocks, or biting down on something hard. Ensure you have a go-to pediatric emergency dentist to provide dental care to your little one when they need it the most.

A trusted pediatric dental office near me

Our experienced pediatric dentist provides gentle dental care to patients of all ages. You can trust our office for high-quality care regardless of your child’s age. Call (310) 832-5133 to schedule an appointment. 

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