Early Infant Oral Care in Gilbert, AZ

Early Infant Oral Care in Gilbert, AZ

Oral Health Starts Before Baby’s First Tooth

Caring for your baby’s oral health starts before their first tooth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) advises pregnant women to get dental care, as maternal gum health affects birth outcomes. Cavity-causing bacteria can also pass from parents to children through saliva.

To reduce the risk of spreading harmful bacteria, follow these guidelines:

  • Visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings and exams.
  • Eat a balanced diet and limit sugary or starchy foods and drinks.
  • Brush twice daily, floss once a day, and use an ADA-approved fluoridated toothpaste.
  • Avoid sharing utensils, cups, or food with your child to prevent bacteria transfer.
  • Never use your saliva to clean pacifiers, toys, or utensils.
  • If giving your child juice, dilute it with water.
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Sugary food and drink left on the teeth produce acids that can erode the strong enamel of a tooth causing a cavity or decay.  Baby bottle tooth decay is also called early childhood caries and is caused by prolonged exposure of your child’s teeth to sugary drinks from a bottle or sippy cup given at naptime or bedtime.  Bacteria in the mouth thrive on sugar and produce acids that attack the teeth. Oral bacteria can also be passed mouth to mouth by sharing utensils and by using your mouth to clean your child’s pacifier before placing it in their mouth. Preventing this decay is simple!

  • Help your child brush their teeth after meals, snacks, and bottles to establish good home care habits and to remove food particles and debris.
  • Don’t give a child a bottle filled with sugary drinks or juices.
  • Reserve bottles only for feeding, not as a convenient sippy cup.
  • Don’t let your child go to bed with a bottle unless it contains just water.

A child’s teeth start forming before birth, and by around 4 months, the first baby teeth—usually the bottom front teeth —begin to emerge. These are soon followed by the upper front teeth. While all 20 primary teeth typically arrive by age 3, the timing and order can vary.

Keeping primary (baby) teeth healthy is essential for your child’s overall dental development. Untreated cavities can lead to issues that impact emerging permanent teeth. Baby teeth play a key role in proper chewing, eating, and speech development. They also help maintain space for permanent teeth, guiding them into the right position, and support normal jaw and muscle development.

CONTACT
  • Sweet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry
  • 5656 S Power Rd, Suite #118
  • Gilbert, AZ 85295

480-988-1879

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