Dental Care for Babies

Most dental experts recommend that you should take your child to the dentist within 6 months of their first tooth erupting or if they start teething late it would still be a good idea to bring them in within the first year of after their birth. 

By this time, the dentist can assess your baby’s mouth for baby bottle decay, teething, as well as their finger-sucking and pacifier habits.

At the first visit, give the dentist your child’s complete health history. The initial appointment is usually just a cursory assessment of your child’s overall oral health and mostly to help your child feel comfortable with the dentist. This first visit will usually last between 30 to 45 minutes. 

Just like adults, children should visit the dentist every 6 months. Some dentists may recommend to schedule visits more often such as every 3 months in order to build up the child’s comfort and confidence. Dentists often recommend for you to take your children with you to your own appointments to get them used to the dentist in hopes that it will make them less afraid. 

Contact us today to book your baby’s first dentist appointment in either Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

Protect your child’s teeth by starting dental checkups early. Depending on your child’s age, they should have their first dentist appointment when their first milk teeth appear. This will allow for our dentists to examine any kind of early baby bottle decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. The most important part of bringing your child to their first appointment is getting them comfortable with the dentist. 

When you visit the dentist it is important to be positive about it with your child and make the trip fun. Our dentists are trained to create a positive and fun atmosphere for children. We insist that we make our practice the most comfortable place for children to have fun with their oral hygiene and not to worry about future visits.  

To find our more about what happens at your baby’s dental appointment, contact our practices in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

All babies begin to teeth at different ages. Some babies are actually born with their first teeth whereas others start teething between 4 to 6 months and some after 12 months. Do not be worried if your child starts teething either late or early. After 12 months, even if your baby’s teeth have not yet erupted, it would be a good idea to book a dentist appointment just for an assessment of your child’s oral health. 

Baby teeth normally start erupting at around 6 months and the teething pains can be quite distressing for mother and baby. Teething rings and gels can help sooth your baby’s pain and occasionally pain killers may be required. If this is the case, always follow the instructions that come with the medicine and if you are ever unsure contact your GP, Dentist or Pharmacist.

If it is possible, avoid using dummies and allowing thumb sucking. Giving a baby a pacifier or thumb sucking while they are still babies and not started teething yet, will not harm your baby’s teeth but they will encourage an open bite when they begin teething, which is when the teeth move to make space for the dummy or thumb. If they are used for a persistent amount of time, they can affect the positioning and structure of teeth later on in life. That will also affect their speech development. This is why you should avoid using dummies after your child reaches 12 months old. 

There are some ‘orthodontic’ dummies that can reduce the risk of developing such problems and can be used as an alternative.

To find out more about keeping your baby’s teeth and gums healthy in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey, contact us today to book an appointment.

Some babies are born with teeth, these are known and neonatal teeth. They are present at birth and are not permanent. They are considered as ‘extra’ teeth. They usually do not cause any dental health problems for your baby but may make breastfeeding difficult and might be painful. 

These neonatal teeth usually fall out on their own but if they prove to be a persistent problem, it would be worth contacting your midwife or dentist to get some extra advice on what to do.

As soon as you see your baby’s teeth emerging, you can start to brush your baby’s teeth. Use a baby toothbrush with a tiny smear of child-friendly fluoride toothpaste.

Cleaning your babies teeth should be done as soon as they start to erupt. A pea sized amount of child-friendly fluoride toothpaste should be used the last thing before bed and once in the morning. Encouraging them to get into good habits from an early age is beneficial, so get them involved too!

Milk is a great source of calcium for your growing baby that also makes their teeth strong and healthy.  Breast milk is the best food for babies containing all the extra nutrients your baby needs. Breast milk substitutes given through a bottle can contain sugars, so it is important to clean your baby’s teeth afterwards. Natural sugars are also present in natural breast milk but are unlikely to be harmful to your baby’s teeth as long as they are kept clean. 

All types of milk can cause cavities if they are inappropriately consumed. For example, cavities on the upper front teeth can develop if a baby with teeth is put to bed with the bottle of milk in their mouth. 

Mouthwash is not safe for babies. Alcohol-free mouthwash is safe for children in small quantities however should not be consumed by any child under the age of six. 

You can start cleaning your baby’s teeth by using a small soft toothbrush and water. Even if your baby’s teeth haven’t erupted, it’s good to clean those gums and get your baby used to the routine of cleaning their mouth. At 18 months, you should start to use a pea sized amount of low-fluoride toothpaste to brush your child’s teeth.

It is important to encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste but be sure not to rinse after. Be sure to clean all surfaces of the present teeth and gums twice a day, after breakfast and before bed. 

To find out more about how to clean your baby’s teeth, contact us in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

You should start cleaning your baby’s teeth as soon as they start to erupt. Use a pea sized amount of child-friendly fluoride toothpaste with a soft bristled children’s toothbrush. You should brush their teeth right before they go to bed at night and once in the morning. Starting this routine from a very young age will help get your child into good oral hygiene habits from an early age, so get them involved too! 

Making brushing fun will encourage your kids to want to brush their teeth rather than see it as a chore they would rather not do.

Before a baby’s teeth come in, you can help remove bacteria from their mouths by wiping their mouth with a soft cloth. 

When milk teeth are still beginning to emerge, fluoride toothpaste helps the enamel to develop so that it becomes as hard as it needs to be in order to resist cavities and decay. Babies only need a very small smear of toothpaste, no more than a grain of rice to begin with. 

To minimise the risk of swallowing the toothpaste, try angling your baby’s head slightly downwards so any extra toothpaste will dribble out of their mouth. It is okay if your baby or toddler does swallow a small amount of toothpaste. As long as you are using the recommended amount of toothpaste, you should not be worried.

To find out more about keeping baby teeth and gums healthy, contact us in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey to book an appointment.