First Time Cleaning Your Child’s Teeth
While oftentimes overlooked, taking care of your child’s mouth from the day they are born is very important to their overall oral hygiene. From the moment their first tooth erupts, cavities can develop. By gently cleaning your child’s teeth and gums with a clean, soft cloth following each feeding, you can help prevent the onset of cavities at a young age.
First Tooth
Teething is a milestone most often dreaded by parents. Usually beginning around the age of six months, the teething process can be a tedious and painful one for your child. To comfort a teething baby, offer a cold, firm, and clean teething object and consistently clean their teeth and gums with a soft, clean, cool, damp cloth. When the first tooth appears, you can begin brushing with water. To keep track of your child’s development as more teeth come in, record them in a journal. In total, your child will have 20 baby teeth.
First Dental Visit
At approximately one year old, it is time for your child’s first visit to a pediatric dentist. For most children, this will be an introductory visit, exposing them to the environment. If you have already begun using a baby toothbrush, there should be minimal fear associated with the instruments used. At this time Dr. Wolff will meet with you to discuss brushing habits, finger/thumb/pacifier sucking, teething and developmental milestones.