Babies.
Development:
Your child’s baby (primary) teeth will start to appear anywhere between 4 months and 10 months with an average age of 7-8 months. The first teeth you will usually see are the lower central incisors.
Like every developmental milestone, the point at which your baby gets their teeth is an individual thing and you shouldn’t worry if their teeth appear earlier or later than other kids their age. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s dental development, please come and see us.
Teething:
Teething is can be a stressful time for parents as well as their child. It is caused by the imminent eruption of your child’s baby teeth. Often it can be difficult to make your child comfortable during this time.
Teething can be indicated by:
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Crying
- Excessive drooling
- Disruption of eating and sleeping habits
- A desire to bite something hard
Some helpful tips to manage through this period include;
- Use of a clean cold teething ring
- Massage of your child’s gums with a clean finger
- Use of a teething gel without aspirin – be guided by your pharmacist and only use as per instructions
- Use of a dummy – without honey, jam or anything sugary as this will contribute to childhood decay
- Talk with other parents – it has all been done before!
When you should seek advice…
- If your child’s symptoms continue to worsen
- If your child has excessive bleeding, swelling or purulent exudate (pus)
- If no teeth have erupted by two years of age
OR if you are concerned! We will provide you with the information you need to have peace of mind.
First dental visit:
We are always happy for you to bring your child in to see us. We would encourage this to occur by 3 years of age. By this time your child will likely have all of their baby teeth. Getting your child used to the dental environment as early as possible creates a positive dental experience which we aim to foster throughout childhood and indeed throughout life.
At your child’s first visit we will be minimally invasive and likely provide you with information on
- Teething
- Brushing techniques and oral hygiene habits
- Habits such as thumb sucking or prolonged dummy use and their possible effects
- Decay and how to prevent it
- Nutritional and dietary advice
- Ongoing dental care for your child as they grow up
Remember to be positive about your child attending the dentist. Positive dental attitudes help shape your child’s future and ongoing oral health. Our dental team is well-trained and experienced in dealing with babies and children of all ages. We aim to help you and your entire family to achieve excellent and sustainable oral health throughout life.
Brushing:
To give your child the best start in life you should start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts. Until you can use a child’s size toothbrush, use a clean cloth. Initially use no toothpaste, just dampen the toothbrush.
When your child begins to get their back teeth, it is time to start using a low-fluoride (less than 600ppm – it will say this on the packaging) toothpaste. This usually happens around 2.5 years old. Only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush.
Brush your child’s teeth for them until they are able to do it properly (under supervision) for themselves. Use of smart phone apps or egg-timers is a good way to ensure your child is brushing for at least two minutes!