Mommies have the faintest idea when their little angel’s first tooth will pop out. This Instagram-worthy milestone can happen anytime. Some babies start teething at six months or even earlier, while some have been known to start growing teeth after their first birthday.
Regardless of when your baby’s first tooth comes out, it is generally advisable that the little one’s mouth be cleaned after every feeding. Wipe gums with a warm washcloth, a dampened piece of cloth, or a finger brush—a thimble-like, soft rubbery device that fits over your index finger—to remove excess food.
Once his first teeth start coming in, however, they should be taken cared of right away.
Many parents assume that baby teeth are not important, eventually replaced by permanent ones.
Contrary to this common perception, however, milk teeth not only assist a baby in chewing food, these ensure the absorption of nutrients from food and aids in the baby’s speech development.
Parents must likewise be warned that neglecting the baby’s milk teeth can lead to a gum infection called gingivitis, which, in turn, could cause the uneven growth of permanent teeth.
And do you know that babies’ teeth can have cavities, too? The first signs of cavities are minor pitting and discoloration. To help prevent these, avoid putting babies to bed with a bottle of milk or leaving them with their bottle for long periods of time.
Since teething in babies could go on for a year or more, or until the age of two-and-a-half years when their milk teeth are expected to be complete, how you take care of his milk teeth will greatly affect his long-term oral health.
Some parents may wonder: how can I take care of my baby’s milk teeth if these cannot be brushed with fluoride toothpaste until he turns two?
Wise mommies know the answer is as simple as it gets. The best way to prevent cavities, bacterial growth, and gum infection in babies is to use a baby-friendly infant toothgel, such as Hapee Baby Infant Toothgel, for age 4 to 24 months. Hapee Baby has no added Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), the chemical responsible for the foaming action in toothpaste.
Furthermore, Hapee Baby has no sugar or artificial colors, which helps in teaching babies that toothgels and toothpastes are not edible.