INFANT DENTAL CARE

When will my baby’s teeth come out?

Your child’s baby teeth will start to appear, often with the bottom central teeth first, anywhere between 4 months and 10 months. 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. Ask our friendly dentist if you have any concern in this regard.

What can i do to help with teething?

Beginning at about 6 months and continuing to age 3, your baby will have periods of tooth eruption, preceded by teething. Symptoms can include more drooling than normal, mild sniffles, crankiness and sore gums in the affected area. Sucking on a clean teething ring, or a cold, wet washcloth can really help with the discomfort.

When should i stop using a bottle altogether?

As a general rule, children should be fully weaned from the bottle by around 14 months. You can begin the transition to a sippy cup at about 6 months. Remember, the same rules about bedtime and extended usage apply to sippy cups.

When should my baby have their first dental visit?

Ideally, your baby’s first dental check should be 6 months after the eruption of their first baby tooth or when they reach 12 months of age. While you might think it’s not necessary to book an appointment until your baby has a full set of teeth, which usually takes place by the age of 3, the earlier your child visits the dentist the better. Early dental visits will help protect your child from tooth decay by educating you on what you need to do to keep their teeth healthy.

The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. We may ask the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the examination. We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. We will make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.

Brushing your baby’s teeth

Dental health is an ongoing process throughout a child’s life and you should begin by modelling good dental health practices early on so your child sees them as a normal part of life. Even if your child only has a few teeth, bacteria can get in and start causing decay, so you should start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts. One great way to get your child used to teeth cleaning is to wipe their gums with a soft cloth twice a day. As soon as the teeth appear, you can switch to using a soft children’s brush, with no toothpaste until 18 months of age.

Is it OK to test the temperature of the formula by tasting a little from the bottle?

No. Doing so can cause the transfer of oral bacteria that leads to plaque. Don’t share utensils or cups with your baby and don’t clean a pacifier or bottle nipple by placing it in your own mouth.

What is Early Childhood Caries?

Early Childhood Caries happen when you put your baby to bed with a bottle or let your baby suck on a bottle for extended periods. This can cause the sugars in milk, formula or juice to pool around the gums and form plaque, which can harm baby teeth before they even emerge. To prevent it, limit your baby’s use of a bottle to feeding times only.

How to keep teeth Healthy:

Drink Well

• Breast milk is best for your baby;
• Teach your baby to drink from a cup from around six months;
• Give tap water in-between meals.

Eat Well

• Give kids healthy snacks like cheese, vegetable sticks, fresh fruit, wholegrain sandwiches and soups.

Clean Well

• Clean your baby’s teeth with water only as soon as they appear;
• Brush your child’s teeth twice a day, with low fluoride toothpaste from around 18 months;
• Night time is especially important for brushing.

Primary Teeth Eruption Diagram

Make An Appointment

Click Here or call us on (02) 8084 7170 to book an appointment at our Erskineville dental clinic. Our friendly team will respond to you within 1 business day.