3 Ways To Fit Caring For Baby’s Teeth Into Your Daily Routine

 

It can sometimes seem hard to find time to care for your baby’s teeth and gums.

Why not try one or two of these ideas and see if it helps?

  1. Set a timer or alert. Even great parents need help remembering things sometimes! Use an alarm clock or set a timer on your phone to help you remember when it’s time to brush your baby’s teeth or clean their gums.
  2. Combine oral health time with another activity. Is there something you and your baby do together every day? Maybe they have a daily bath or you always sit down to eat breakfast around the same time. Adding caring for their teeth and gums to that activity can be an easy way to remember.
  3. Avoid giving your baby sweet snacks or liquids. One of the most important things you can do to help keep your baby’s teeth and gums healthy is really easy. Don’t put baby to bed with juice, milk, formula, or other sweet liquids. These can sit on the teeth overnight and feed the bacteria that cause cavities.

Once you’ve started wiping your baby’s gums with a soft, wet cloth (before teeth emerge) or brushing with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush (after teeth appear) it’ll become easier to keep going. Keep working on making this part of your daily routine. 

Also remember that what you feed your baby can affect the health of their teeth! Sticky, starchy, and sweet foods, like peanut butter, crackers, and dried fruit, feed the bacteria that cause cavities. If you think you will have a hard time brushing your baby’s teeth or wiping her gums soon after a meal or snack, consider another kind of food. Cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh fruits and veggies are better options that are less likely to promote cavities. 

Do you feel like you can get started doing this now? Maybe you still aren’t sure why you need to care for baby teeth. If so, click here to read about why your baby’s first teeth are so important for their future oral health! Or, you can click “Return to Resources” then "Continue" to get your personalized action plan and finish the lesson.