Oral Health for Baby

Oral Health for Baby: Early Childhood Dental Care 0-7 months

It is never too early to start taking care of those little chompers! What you feed your baby strongly impacts the development of dental health right from the start! Here are a few tips to help you ensure you and your babies and tots are practicing the healthiest dental habits possible!

Children begin to get their first teeth when they are about 6 months old. To help your baby form healthy teeth you can:
☺ Ask your Pediatrician or Dentist for information on teething
☺ Keep the areas of the newly incoming teeth clean; wipe with a warm washcloth twice a day
☺ Fluoride supplementation is key to early teething; if you are giving your baby bottled or distilled waters these usually do not contain fluoride. If you live in a safe drinking area, consider using tap water or ask your dentist about supplementation for baby
☺ Do not give your child a bottle to take to bed, this can place your child at risk for the development of dental caries
☺ Do not provide baby with excessive amounts of juice. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 4-6oz of fruit juice a day. If you feel the urge to provide your child with fruit juice, dilute it so it is equal parts water and juice
☺ Provide your baby with healthy fluids; The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that only fluid given to infants with regards to water is breast milk until 4-6 months of age. In fact, offering juice before solid foods are introduced into the diet could put the child at risk for juice to replace breast milk or formula due to infant rejection. This can cause decreased intake of important vitamins and minerals such as protein, fat, iron, zinc and calcium.
☺ A sippie cup can begin to be introduced at about 7 months of age

Molly Perry, R.D., LDN;

Baby-Strong Dietitian/Nutritionist
References: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;107/5/1210

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