Infants

 

A first child's tooth is important as their baby teeth provide the foundation to where there adult teeth grow into.

 

Certain things that you should be wary about:

 

• even before they have teeth, they need to have their gums cleaned. This can be done by either a moist washcloth or a piece of moist gauze after every meal and before bedtime

• avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle in their mouth and this can likely lead to 'baby bottle tooth decay'

• Parents should brush their children's teeth till they are 3 years old, until they are able to brush on their own supervised

• A simple, circular motion brushing technique should be done. Ask your dentist about this.

 

Make brushing their teeth a positive experience, either do this together or let them watch you. Likewise, the same happens when they visit the dentist.

 

When should I take my child to the dentist for the first time ?

 

 You can take your child as young as 3-4 years old, so that they can become used to the dental chair and small minor problems can be picked up by the dentist and managed early before they become major dental health concerns.