Why Baby Teeth Matter

Maybe baby teeth are just for babies, but that doesn’t make them unimportant. In fact, they are critical to your children's health and development, from enabling them to chew to helping them smile and even speak.

They also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that will grow beneath the gums. When a baby tooth is lost too early, permanent teeth can drift into the empty space, making it difficult for other adult teeth to find room when they grow in. This can make teeth crooked or crowded.

SmileMore wants you to know it’s important to implement good oral care with your infant in order to protect their teeth -- both baby and adult.

Here are a few tips to help you care for your baby’s teeth from the start:

• Begin cleaning baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth. As soon as teeth appear, decay can occur. A baby’s front four teeth usually push through the gums at about 6 months, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months.
• For children younger than 3 years, start brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as they grow into the mouth -- with no more than a smear the size of a grain of rice.
• Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician.
• For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and brush teeth thoroughly twice per day.
• Supervise children’s brushing and remind them not to swallow toothpaste.
• Until you’re comfortable with your brushing his or her teeth unsupervised, continue to help brush twice a day.
• When your child has two teeth that touch, you should help them to learn how to floss daily.

Consider following these recommendations regularly so your children can develop good dental hygiene habits. Call SmileMore today to schedule an appointment, at 860-646-1535, or click here to visit our website and learn more about our services.

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Smile-More Office Happenings - March 

Congratulations to Carol who celebrated her 33rd year here on March 12th!

Denise A. enjoyed a well deserved vacation in sunny Florida.