Dental care in the baby

introduction

Good dental care for babies that begins in good time is very important in laying the foundation for caries-free milk teeth.

Often times, baby's dental care is neglected, started too late or done incorrectly. As soon as the first teeth appear, dental care should be started.

Even at this age, the children eat sugary foods, which can lead to tooth decay. Brushing your teeth can be made playful and after a short time a kind of ritual for the children develops from daily oral hygiene.

When does dental care start with the baby?

Dental care in the baby should begin with the eruption of the first tooth. In most cases, this is one of the lower front incisors. It usually breaks through around the sixth month of life. However, this is only an average. The first tooth can also break through earlier or later.

Find out more about the topic: Caries from breastfeeding

Thorough dental care starting with the first tooth eruption is very important. On the one hand, it prevents tooth decay and on the other hand, the child gets used to regular dental hygiene right from the start.

Learn more about: Teething in the baby

Which toothbrush should you use?

When the first tooth erupts, one should carefully start cleaning the teeth. In the beginning, it is sufficient to rub the region with a special toothpaste for babies. There are, for example, special finger cots with knobs on them to clean the first little teeth.

If you want to use a toothbrush, you should make sure that it is particularly soft and has a small brush head intended for babies. The intended age for the various types of toothbrushes can usually be found on the packaging.

Brushing should be done twice a day with special toothpaste for babies. This contains a little less fluoride than the toothpaste for adults. It is recommended to keep the teeth always brush from the gums to the crown, to achieve an optimal result.

A toothbrush with a small, soft brush head and short bristles is suitable for a few teeth in the mouth. A toothbrush with a thick, easy-to-handle handle and longer bristles is suitable if the children have had all of their milk teeth at around 2½ years of age. At this point the children usually start brushing their teeth on their own, but under the supervision of their parents.

Find out more on our main page: Baby's First Toothbrush - You Must Know That!

Electric toothbrush or manual toothbrush?

At the beginning of teething it is much better to use a small, soft manual toothbrush or a special finger cot to clean the erupting teeth. The reason for this is to protect the gums.

An electric toothbrush would irritate babies' gums too much. As soon as several teeth have erupted, the careful use of an electric toothbrush is possible. Care should be taken with the gums. In general, plaque can be removed better with an electric toothbrush. It is best to switch to using an electric toothbrush at the age of three. If the baby does not like to be brushed his teeth or if brushing his teeth with a manual toothbrush is difficult to do, an electric toothbrush can be used earlier.

How is the first tooth properly cared for?

The care of the first tooth is often neglected or carried out incorrectly. However, it is essential to get deciduous milk teeth later and to create a routine for the child. A special silicone finger cot from the pharmacy is best. This is provided with knobs and is easy to clean. With the help of this finger cot and a little bit of special toothpaste intended for the baby, the first tooth can be carefully rubbed in. Some dentists recommend using just a little water instead of toothpaste. However, when using toothpaste it is important that it is specially formulated for the baby's age. Furthermore, instead of the finger cot, a soft, short-bristled baby toothbrush can also be used to clean the first tooth. This cleaning of the tooth should be done twice a day for 10-20 seconds.

Learn more about this on our main article: Brushing the baby's teeth

Which toothpaste can you use?

When brushing the baby's teeth, age-appropriate toothpaste should be used. This can be selected in consultation with the treating pediatrician. Toothpastes for babies contain a certain amount of fluoride to prevent tooth decay. The fluoride content of baby toothpaste should not exceed 500 ppm (parts per million). The maximum value for fluoride intake is 0.05-0.07 mg F / kg body weight. The toothpastes for adults have a higher fluoride content.

A toothpaste that does not taste particularly sweet is also recommended. Delicious taste tempts babies to swallow it.

How is gingivitis treated in babies?

Inflammation of the gums in babies can have various causes. Often a viral droplet infection is the cause of the inflammation that has developed. Poor oral hygiene can also be the cause of the inflammation.

As a first measure, a Rinse with chamomile help counteract inflammation. However, it is very important to see a doctor who will have a look at the inflammation. In many cases, an antibiotic, as well as a topical solution in the oral cavity, is given to control the inflammation. After a few days this has usually subsided again under treatment.

What to do if the gums bleed

Bleeding when brushing your teeth is a sign of inflammation of the gums. The most important thing is to fight the inflammation and strengthen the gums again. As the inflammation subsides, the bleeding will also go away. Visiting the dentist is very important. Most often, a solution for topical application in the oral cavity and / or, depending on the severity of the inflammation, an antibiotic is prescribed.

More information can be found here: Therapy for bleeding gums

White gums in babies - is it dangerous?

White gums in babies can have various causes. Often times it is a sign of a tooth that is about to erupt. As a result, it is also more tense than the surrounding gums. In this case, of course, it is not dangerous. Due to the underlying tooth, which will soon erupt, the tissue at the site is displaced and therefore less well supplied with blood. Hence, the whitening results.

You should see whether the white areas on the gums can be wiped away. If these can be wiped off, they do not indicate that a tooth has broken through, but are a sign of a fungal infection. In this case, a dentist should be seen as soon as possible to combat the fungus.

Swollen gums - what to do?

If the baby's gums are swollen while teething, it can be very uncomfortable for the baby. As a first measure, the affected area can be cooled. Warmth should be avoided at all costs.

To allow the swelling to subside, the affected area can be cooled with cold pieces of fruit or cool teething rings. A cold wax cloth can also be placed on the outside of the cheek to counteract the swelling.

There are also special ointments that can be applied to the gums. However, many of these ointments contain a local anesthetic, so they are often not recommended. Clarification with the treating pediatrician can help.

More information can be found here: Teething in the baby

Care for gums while teething

Every child experiences teething differently. Some babies experience severe pain when their teeth break through their gums. Others have only minor complaints. Teething is often accompanied by fever and diarrhea, as babies are particularly sensitive to infections during this time.

In many cases, the gums are severely irritated. It is displaced by the erupting new tooth. The gums are often swollen and red when the first teeth erupt. It can also lead to inflammation of the gums.

Ointments that can be applied to the gums to relieve swelling and discomfort or homeopathic remedies can help maintain the gums. Cooling the affected areas can also be very helpful. A suitable for this is, for example cool piece of fruit.

This could also be of interest to you: Teething in the baby

Will a gum massage help my baby?

If the baby has severe discomfort during teething, massaging the gums can help. You can tell very quickly from the child's reaction whether the baby likes the massage and relaxes it. The massage gives the gums better blood circulation and allows them to relax a little.

How do I massage the gums properly?

Using special silicone finger cots (in the pharmacy parents can gently massage the baby's gums with clean fingers. With light pressure and circular movements you can care for the gums.

You can quickly tell whether the baby likes the massage or not. Basically, there isn't much you can go wrong with massaging your gums. It is important not to apply too much pressure.

A mixture of a drop of chamomile and oil is also suitable for massaging the gums. This mixture can be gently massaged onto the gums.

Gum Gel - How Useful is it?

Most gum gels contain a local anesthetic such as Lidocaine or the like. This has an anti-inflammatory effect and relieves swelling. The However, use of these gels in babies is controversial and should only be used as a last resort to relieve swelling and discomfort.

It is very important to consult with the treating pediatrician and to weigh up all other treatment options.