Newborn News: 3 Facts About Your Baby’s Dental Health

Regardless of whether you’ve parented children before, having a newborn comes with a unique set of challenges. As their guardian, you’re responsible for their physical and emotional well-being until they’re grown enough to take care of themselves. As part of your role, you’re also in charge of their dental well-being. Unfortunately, there’s no standard rule book on how to raise infants, and so many new parents aren’t sure how or when to start caring for their baby’s teeth and gums.

Your pediatric dentist doesn’t want you to feel daunted by your child’s dental health. Continue reading to learn 3 important pieces of information that every parent of a newborn should know!

Fact #1: You Can Start Early

You might think that your newborn’s mouth is safe from potential disease and decay until they start eating more solid foods or have all their teeth. However, it’s possible for them to have problems even without a full grin because their pearly whites develop below the surface of their gums. If bacteria are allowed to thrive in their little mouth, they can penetrate below the gum line and impact baby teeth that haven’t grown in.  

Thankfully, cleaning your newborn’s mouth when they’re small is relatively simple. You can wipe their gums twice daily or after every feeding with a soft, clean cloth or special toothbrush intended for infants.

Fact #2: Schedule a Checkup After One Year

Many adults falsely assume that their child doesn’t need to see the dentist until they have a full mouth of teeth. The truth is that experts recommend scheduling a checkup when their first tooth arrives, which is usually when they’re about a year old. This ensures that they’ll have a skilled professional monitoring their smile’s growth and development to prevent potential problems later.

Fact #3: Cavities Are Common

Did you know that according to the CDC, more than 42% of kids who are 2 to 11 years old will have at least one cavity? In fact, tooth decay is 5 times more prevalent than childhood asthma and 20 times more common than diabetes. In most cases, it’s also highly preventable.

In addition to gently clearing plaque away from your baby’s gums and any teeth they may have grown, you can ask your pediatric dentist about topical treatments. Fluoride can strengthen the enamel of still-developing teeth so they’re more resistant to disease and decay. Although this won’t repair any existing cavities, it can help safeguard their grin from future potential harm.  

Now that you know more about your baby’s dental health, you can take steps to help them grow a happy, healthy smile!

About the Author

Dr. Amar Singh has nearly a decade of experience helping young patients improve their oral condition. He completed his undergraduate degree at Carnegie Mellon University and then earned his dental doctorate at Howard University College of Dentistry. Now, he’s a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist so you know your child’s teeth are in good hands. He puts their comfort first by combining a fun and educational environment with state-of-the-art equipment. If your infant needs a checkup, you can request an appointment on the website or by calling (215) 874-3786.