Taking Care of Baby’s Teeth
Your baby’s teeth started growing while you were pregnant and keep on developing even if you can’t see them. Usually babies will get their first tooth around 6 months of age but every baby is different.
Lift the lip!
Lift up your baby’s lip and look for white or brown spots along the gumline when you are brushing – these are signs of tooth decay. If you see them, take your baby to the Dentist or the Nurse right away.
Baby teeth are important for:
- A healthy smile
- Chewing
- Speaking
- Jaw development
- Growth of adult teeth
The main cause of tooth decay is sugar in food or drinks. If the sugar is left on the teeth and isn’t brushed off well, tooth decay can occur. Baby bottle tooth decay is completely preventable. Here’s how:
How to take care of baby’s teeth before they show
- Breastfeed your baby – breastfeeding helps your baby have a strong jaw and healthy teeth
- Wipe baby’s teeth twice a day, especially before bedtime, with a clean, damp washcloth. Here’s how:
- Lay your baby in a comfortable place
- Make sure you can see into your baby’s mouth
- Wet a soft washcloth and wrap it around your finger
- Wipe your baby’s gums along the cheek side and along the tongue side
- As a breastfeeding mom, eat foods high in calcium and make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D
- At this age, babies will only be having breastmilk (or formula) so you don’t need to worry about what foods to give
- Give your baby Vitamin D drops every day. You can get these for free from the Health Centre. If your baby is breastfed, give 400 IU a day from May to September and 800 IU per day from October to April. If your baby is on formula, don’t give any drops from May to September and give 400 IU per day from October to April).
How to take care of baby’s teeth once they show
- Brush baby’s teeth twice a day with a soft infant toothbrush, especially before bedtime. Your baby will need help brushing their teeth until they are about 8 years old
- Use water only – baby’s don’t need toothpaste until they are one year old
- Breastmilk is still the most important food for your baby. As you start introducing solid foods to your baby at 6 months (link to Introducing Solid Foods) it is important to avoid any added sugars
- Juice is not necessary for your baby. If you decide to give your child juice, choose unsweetened, 100% real fruit juice. The maximum amount of juice your baby should drink is ½ a cup per day. Give the juice in a cup or sippy cup during a meal or snack while at the table. Do not let your baby sip on juice often during the day. This can cause tooth decay and might cause your baby to not get the nutrition that he/she needs. Click here to find out how much sugar is in various drinks.
- If you give your baby a bottle in bed, only fill it with water. Any juice or sugary drink in the bottle can cause tooth decay.
- Take your baby to the dentist by their first birthday
- Be a good role model! Brush your own teeth at the same time as children will learn from watching their caregivers.
Check out this resource for more information:
If you live in the Beaufort Delta - Sahtu Region, you can also access the Oral Health Initiative for you baby and your other children. Find out more here.