How To Care For Baby Gums

By Sneha

Tuesday, July 31, 2012, 17:38

Even before your child sprouts his/her first tooth start caring for their baby gums. Its always better to start thinking of oral hygiene even before your infant starts teething. Good oral habits facilitate the development of a healthy mouth in a baby. Facilitate proper jaw growth in your child by regularly taking care of your teething baby. Bacteria in the mouth can damage the child's gums even before the teeth emerge.

Let us see how to care for your baby's gums.

With Water- Clean baby's gums regularly with water. Take a wet piece of cloth and gently rub it through the gums of your baby. Start this habit even before your baby has started teething. Also take care to clean his/her gums after every meal and before they sleep. Instead of a wet cloth you may also clean your hands and take some water to wash your baby's mouth. This keeps your baby's mouth free from germs.

With Toothbrush- As soon as your infant stars teething start using a small headed soft toothbrush for him/her. There is not much need to use any toothpaste when your infant has just started teething. Brush the tooth of your child twice daily. Gently massage the gums. Make gentle strokes and see that your teething baby does not get hurt. You should change the brush as soon as the bristles are worn out. After you brush your teething baby, do no forget to wash off his/her mouth.

Fluoride Toothpaste- Start using a fluoride toothpaste a few months after your baby starts growing teeth. It prevents tooth decay by strengthening the tooth enamel and making it more resistant to bacteria. But overuse of it is also not good for your baby's gums. Check with a dentist and find out which is the most suitable fluoride toothpaste for your child.

Meals- To keep baby gums in good health you must go easy on the meals of your baby. Be careful with sweets, juices and milk. Do not make it a habit of your child to sleep with a bottle of milk in his/her mouth. It fills the mouth with bacteria and leads to tooth decay. Give them all sugary and starchy food with meals and not as separate servings.

Most important of all, make sure you visit a dentist at regular intervals for healthy baby gums and tooth. You should always visit a dentist along with a paediatrician for your child. Regular gum and mouth care habits at this stage paves the way for your child's healthy oral hygiene in future.