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Baby Teeth Care: Oral Care Tips for Babies and Toddlers

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

Your baby's dental care is an area that you must adhere to right from the birth of your baby. Oral care tips for babies and toddlers are essential for maintaining oral hygiene. Your little one’s cute smile attracts everyone and it brings a smile on your face too. Always make sure to maintain good hygiene and essential oral care from the first week when your baby arrives.

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Oral care tips for babies from 0-6 months:

When your child finishes their feed, wipe their mouth with a wet clean cotton cloth. Always use new cloth pieces after one wash so that it doesn’t tear. Wet the cloth piece in clean water and wrap it around your finger and then wipe your baby’s gums and tongue. Do this for 3 to 4 times a day.

If your baby is on formula feed then don’t put your baby to sleep with the bottle. After feeding clean her mouth thoroughly. Sleeping with a bottle in bed can cause choking, and sometimes when babies fall asleep while feeding, food can go in their ears too and cause infection. For healthy gums and odourless mouth strictly avoid any sugary items and maintain good oral hygiene.

Oral care tips for babies after 6 months:

In 6 to 10 months you can notice your baby’s first teeth; their gums are little swollen and turn pink in colour, after few weeks white teeth sprout. At this time you have to clean their mouth well.

Take any silicon finger brush and gently rub the brush on gums and tongue, wash with clean filtered water. Don’t use any toothpaste at this stage. You can give hot and cold compression during this time when your baby’s gums are swollen.

Till 18 months don’t use any toothpaste; clean only with soft brush and filtered water twice a day.

Before first feed and after last feed, rinse their mouth well. Your baby is not used to spitting water so sometimes she may intake that water, therefore use filtered water.

Oral care tips for toddlers:

After 18 months use low-fluoride or fluoride free toothpaste but use only pea size amount.

Brush your child’s teeth twice a day. Always choose the right size, soft toothbrush according to your baby.

Start with giving them a proper demonstration like you can. Buy a mock teeth set and demonstrate proper brushing on it. You can stand in front of the mirror and brush so that your baby clearly sees the right way of brushing.

You also can hold their hand and start brushing so that your child can feel proper pressure and use small circular motion up and down, forward and backward direction until the end of the last tooth.

For rinsing and spitting, use filtered water in the case of your toddler till your child does not learn how to spit.

Whenever you see any cavity or swelling gums with bad odour immediately visit your dentist.

Avoid giving any sugary drinks or snacks before sleeping so that their teeth are free from any risk like decaying or cavity.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

 

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