How do I take care of my baby’s teeth? (Baby care query)

Just because your baby has fewer teeth doesn't mean that oral care can be neglected. Read to know how to keep your baby's whites shining.

By: Debjani Arora | | Updated: September 26, 2014 10:55 am

My baby is 17 months old and has developed light brown scars on the teeth. Since she is too young to brush herself, I want to know what is the best way I can keep her teeth white and clean?

Brown scars on milk teeth are usually a result of wrong eating habits, overuse of medication and bad oral hygiene. The scars usually develop if you have offered sticky foods to your weaned baby such as sweets, chocolates or aerated drinks. Just be sure that you offer your baby only natural and homemade food.

Avoid packaged foods, sweetened drinks and colas and try to keep your baby in good health to avoid medication. The sweet baby syrups also affect the health of your baby’s teeth while treating an underlying health condition. To keep your baby’s whites shining do the following:

Clean the mouth area everyday: There are a number of baby friendly toothpastes available in the market, choose one. Apply a pea-sized amount of the paste on a finger toothbrush and brush your baby’s teeth. Do not apply too much pressure, instead just gently massage the teeth and the gums. Don’t forget to clean the tongue area too, to avoid bad breath. Yes, this can happen to babies, once they are weaned. Ideally brush the teeth twice a day.

Clean your baby’s orals after giving medication: Medicines especially iron syrups tend to leave stains on the teeth, wipe off the teeth with a wet soft cloth after you give your baby medicines. Also make it a point to give her water after the medications as it is not possible to rinse her mouth.

Shift from bottles to cups early: Though this has nothing to do with keeping the teeth white but using a cup soon will lessen the possibility of getting dental decay early in life.

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Published: June 9, 2014 7:06 pm | Updated:September 26, 2014 10:55 am

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