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Hands up if you have a baby!

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So you’ve survived the pregnancy. You’ve had your first glass of wine in 9 months, you’re finally eating sushi again and delicious soft creamy cheeses are back on the menu! Celebrations are done, and before you know it, your bundle of joy is crawling?!

Time to think teeth!

Baby teeth start to appear anywhere between 4 months and 10 months. Usually the bottom from two teeth appear first. Like every developmental milestone, the point at which your baby gets their teeth is an very individual. You shouldn’t worry if their teeth appear earlier or later than other babies their age. If you have any concerns in this regard, speak to one of our experienced clinical staff or better yet, come in for a visit.

When your child is teething it can be tough to make them comfortable. But a combination of loving attention, chilled but not frozen teething rings or washcloths often does the trick. Avoid using honey or jam as these can cause decay. (Yes, even babies can get holes in their teeth, we’ve seen it!)

Make sure any baby-sitters (especially grandma and grandpa) also know to avoid using sugars.

Your baby’s first ever dental visit!

We recommend you and your baby come in to see us when you see their first few teeth start coming through the gums. Otherwise, try to organise a visit by the time they reach 12 months of age. If you have other children, just bring your baby along to their check ups, that way they become use to the dental environment.

Don’t forget to make yourself an appointment, mums and dads often put themselves last on the to-do-list!

Your baby’s first ever (instagram-able) dental visit will involve checking:
Teething
Brushing techniques
Bite (how your children’s teeth come together)
Habits such as thumb sucking
The risk of decay and how to prevent it
Prevention of traumatic injury to your child’s mouth
Nutritional advice
Going to the dentist should be a positive event, so please don’t use the dental visits as a ‘punishment’ for ‘not brushing’. We really want it to be ZEN for all involved.

Now, while you’re on a good thing…

Keeping teeth and mouth healthy should be a part of every day life. The earlier a child builds the right habits, the less time you’re going to need to spend nagging them outside the bathroom. By modelling good dental health practices at home, your child sees them as a normal part of life. Even if your child only has a few teeth, bacteria can get in and start causing decay, so you should start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts. One great way to get your child used to teeth cleaning is to wipe their gums with a soft cloth twice a day.

As soon as the teeth appear, you can switch to using a soft children’s brush, with no toothpaste until 18 months of age. Sometimes, it may be helpful to brush while your child lies on your lap or on a bed. And yes flossing is necessary; see our FLOSSING blog and ask us when you’re next in!

Remember. Brush. Floss. And smile!