Caring for Baby's Teeth

Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth. These teeth arrive in the mouth about the age of 4-5 months and all twenty teeth are in at about two years of age. Although this is generally the rule, some children start the teething process later. Usually, these teeth are lost around 7 years of age with the last tooth staying in the mouth until 12-14 years of age. During this span of time, the baby or deciduous teeth are important for eating, speaking, smiling, and most importantly, to hold and maintain the spaces for the adult teeth.
Care of these "precious pearls" should include wiping the new tooth with a gauze square or corner of the wash cloth. Tooth brushing should begin as soon as all parts of the tooth can not be easily wiped.
Flossing is also very important to the overall dental health of your child. When ever two teeth are touching, there is potential for bacteria to be held between them. Flossing is best if the child puts his or her head in the parent's lap and then the parent has better access to the child's mouth.
The amount of toothpaste to be used should be no more than the size of a small pea. Too much toothpaste is not pleasant for the child, and the frequent ingestion or swallowing of the paste can cause dental fluorosis or "modeling" of the tooth structure. The soft multi-tufted end-rounded toothbrush is best for all teeth and their surrounding gum tissue. This small brush head is ideal for a child's mouth.
Changing the toothbrush frequently is also important for overall dental health. The toothbrush has the potential to harbor bacteria at the very base of the bristles. It is best to change the toothbrush every one to three months, or immediately following the flu, a cold, or throat infection.