Dental Care for Your Baby Before His or Her First Dental Visit!

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby! Are you prepared for the arrival of your baby’s first tooth? Follow these guidelines and your baby will be on his or her way to a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Caring for Gums

Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, his or her gums can benefit from your careful attention. After breast- or bottle-feeding, wrap one finger with a clean, damp washcloth or piece of gauze and gently rub it across your baby’s gum tissue.

Baby’s First Tooth

When that first tooth makes an entrance, it’s time to upgrade to a baby toothbrush. If your little one doesn’t react well to the introduction of a toothbrush, don’t give up. Switch back to a damp washcloth for a few weeks and try the toothbrush again.

Brushing with Toothpaste

When a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste with your child’s brush. The
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that you start brushing your baby’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste. If your child is 2 or younger, use a smear of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice). For children 2 or older, a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste will be enough.

First Visit to the Dentist

It’s important that you bring your baby in for a visit within six months of the first tooth’s eruption—usually around his or her first birthday. Since decay can occur in even the smallest of teeth, the earlier your baby visits us, the more likely he or she can avoid problems. We’ll look for any signs of early problems with your baby’s oral health, and check-in with you about the best way to care for his or her teeth.

Azi Nia, DMD, is a board-certified pediatric dentist. Dr. Azi (as her patients call her) attended Georgia State University and continued on to the Medical College of Georgia to earn her Doctorate of Dental Medicine. In order to become a specialist in pediatric dentistry, she completed a 3-year residency at Colorado Children’s Hospital, where she also served as chief resident. Dr. Azi is dedicated to providing excellent pediatric dental care and building confidence in her patients. Creating a positive dental experience customized to each young patient is central to her practice’s philosophy.