Baby teeth are extremely important, especially when it comes to the future smile. So, because baby teeth are so important, it is also important that you take good care of your child’s teeth. To help you do so, our team at Art & Science Family Dentistry recommends doing the following things:
· Regularly clean your child’s gums before the teeth even grow into place. Cleaning the gums will help remove the dental plaque that waits to destroy the baby teeth. You can clean the gums with a moist gauze pad or washcloth.
· Once the teeth grow in, brush them twice a day. As you brush, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you do not use any more toothpaste than the size of a small grain of rice.
· You can increase the amount of toothpaste used when your child is between the ages of 3 and 6 years old. At that time, you can use pea-sized toothpaste. Make sure your child brushes every morning and every night and if they brush on their own, please supervise and keep them from swallowing the toothpaste.
· When two teeth grow in next to each other, it is very important that you floss between those teeth at least once a day to free food particles, complete the cleaning job, and eliminate plaque.
If you have any questions about caring for your child’s smile or if you would like to know more, please remember that you can always call 651-739-1894 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Kinney and Musser. We are here to help you in any way we can, and we look forward to giving you the answers you need to properly take care of your child’s smile!