7 Tips on Baby Tooth Care

Practical tips for keeping baby's brand-new teeth healthy.

Now that your baby's teeth are on their way in, it's time to start taking care of them. Even though this set will only be around for a short time, their health essential to your baby's gums and those future permanent teeth.
Make sure your baby's new teeth get the best care:

1. Start cleaning your child's mouth even before her teeth come in. Wipe the gums off after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. You can also buy thimblelike, soft rubbery devices (they fit over your index finger) to use for rubbing off excess food.

2. Once the teeth begin coming in, start taking care of them right away. Many parents think baby teeth aren't important because they're eventually replaced by permanent ones. But these first teeth preserve the spacing for the permanent ones and help baby chew and talk. If they're not cared for properly the can decay, leading to a gum infection called gingivitis, which can affect the spacing of permanent teeth.

3. Watch for cavities. The first signs of cavities in baby teeth are discoloration and minor pitting. Putting baby to bed with a bottle of milk (or worse, juice) is notorious for causing cavities. Don't leave your infant with a bottle for long periods of time, especially if you notice he's no longer feeding and is just using the bottle for comfort.

4. Follow meals with water. Most infant foods easily wash off baby's teeth with just a drink of water after meals. But it's good to introduce a toothbrush (choose a very soft one) as soon as possible, so baby can get used to having it in his mouth. You probably won't need to use the brush to actually clean baby's teeth until he's eating only table foods (and has a significant number of teeth), at around 18 months. However, you'll want to gently clean your child's teeth with a toothbrush or thimblelike cleaner and some bicarbonate of soda if your toddler has eaten sticky, sugary foods.

5. Begin using a pea-size amount of nonfluoride toothpaste once baby is about age 2. Wait until at least age 3, when your child is old enough not to swallow the toothpaste, before introducing the fluoride kind.

6. Regulate baby's fluoride intake. Even though your baby isn't using a fluoride toothpaste, he should get enough fluoride -- important for preventing tooth decay -- from drinking tap water. Most communal water supplies have it added just for this beneficial purpose. Ask your doctor about fluoride supplements baby can take once he's 6 months old if your tap water is not fluoridated or your child doesn't drink any tap water.

7. Schedule a dental exam. The American Dental Association recommends that baby get his first dental exam at age 1, but most pediatricians agree that the first visit can wait until age 3, as long as you practice good home care.
If you take good care of this first set of pearly whites, you can establish good dental habits for years to come.
Originally published May 2001.
All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

C H A N G I N G - A - D I S P O S A B L E - NAPPY

The step-by-step slide show below will continue looping.

1. Unfasten the nappy tabs and fasten them back on themselves so they don't stick to your baby, but don't remove the dirty nappy yet.
2. Wipe away any poo with the nappy, taking care to cover the penis with a clean cloth or nappy if your baby is a boy (for sanitary reasons and to avoid the aforementioned warm shower).
3. Lift the baby's bottom off the table using the ungainly-yet-effective ankle hold.
4. Fold the dirty nappy in half under the baby, unsoiled side up.
5. Use a baby wipe or wet cotton wool to clean your baby's front thoroughly. For a girl, always wipe from front to back - away from her vagina. This will help to reduce the possibility that bacteria will get into her vagina and cause an infection.
6. Lift both of your baby's legs and clean his bottom.
7. Swap a clean nappy for the dirty one. The clean nappy's top half (the half with the tabs) should go under your baby's rear, and the bottom half should come up between his legs (which should be spread as widely as is comfortable for your baby).Try not to bunch the nappy between your baby's legs - it can cause chafing and discomfort. For newborns, avoid covering the umbilical cord (you can get special newborn nappies with notches cut out for the stump). For boys, tuck the penis down so moisture will be less likely to escape.
8. Fasten the nappy at both sides with the tapes, making sure it's snug, but not so tight that it pinches his skin. Check the manufacturer's instructions for specific tips.9. Retape the soiled nappy around the contents, put it in the plastic bag, and put it in the bin. Dress your baby, and wash your hands thoroughly. That's it - you're done!