Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

As a parent of an infant, you want to make sure you do your best to give them a great start when it comes to healthy teeth. The oral care they receive during those early years sets a precedence for how their first teeth will come in, how their second teeth will come in and the overall health, appearance and strength of their teeth. This is why it's so important for you to learn all about infant dental care and make sure you follow good habits from the start.

Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle

The very first thing you want to avoid is putting your baby in the crib with their bottle. While this may seem like a good way to get them to settle down and go to sleep comfortably, it actually has a lot of risks. Along with posing a choking hazard and increasing their chances of developing an ear infection, it can also lead to early tooth decay.

Start caring for teeth early

As soon as you notice your baby's teeth starting to break through their gums, you want to begin cleaning them. After your baby eats and before you put them to bed, you want to take a moist piece of gauze and gently wipe their gums.

As soon as their teeth come in, you can switch to an infant sized toothbrush and a pea sized amount of infant tooth paste.

Take your baby in to the dentist

You should take your baby in for their first dental exam within 6 months of their first tooth coming in, or by the time they turn a year old. During this appointment, the pediatric dentist will examine your baby's teeth to make sure they are coming in healthy and in the correct position.

They will also look at your baby's gums, jaw and the rest of their mouth. This is the perfect opportunity for you to make sure all of your questions get answered. Many times new parents will leave the doctors or dentists only to get home and realize they forgot to ask some of their questions. Therefore, you should start making a list early of anything that comes to mind and bring it with you.

By following the advice detailed above, you will be better prepared to help your baby get off to a good start when it comes to the health of their teeth.