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Start brushing your baby's tooth once a
day as soon as it erupts would ensure good baby teeth care. At first,
clean your baby’s teeth and gums using a clean, damp piece of gauze or
cloth. You may find the best position to do this is with your baby
sitting on your lap, held securely against your chest. Later on,
develop your child’s habit of tooth brushing by encouraging him to help
using a small tooth brush and a dab of tooth paste. This procedure must
be followed by through cleaning and rinsing. Non-fluoridated toothpaste
should be used until the age of four years or until your child is able
to avoid swallowing toothpaste.
Healthy milk teeth are important because they will prepare your child
for his permanent teeth by having good gums and jaws. This could help
to prevent the painful and traumatic experience of a toothache or
removal of decayed teeth.
The more sugary foods your baby takes, the higher the chances of him
having tooth caries. If he must sleep with a bottle, make sure it is
filled with water, and not milk or juices. The more sweet or sticky
foods your child has, the more deposits will form on his teeth.
Here are some tips on baby teeth care :
• Give the baby diluted fruit juices only at meal times.
• Avoid baby foods with added sugar or fruit concentrates,
• Watch out for hidden sugars in prepared foods.
• Replace sugary snacks with fresh fruits or bits of cheese.
If your baby resists your attempts to clean his teeth, try some clever
techniques such as letting him choose and buy his own toothbrush. In
addition, you could make teeth brushing a fun experience by positioning
him in front of a mirror. He will be thrilled to see himself at work !
Continued resistance to tooth brushing will need even more tricks such
as letting your child watch you while you brush your teeth. Better
still, turn brushing into a game whereby you let him brush your teeth
while you brush his. The next you visit your dentist, it may also a
good idea to bring your child along. This would get him accustomed to
the environment, and make it seem less scary.
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