
Before you know it, your newborn’s adorable gummy grins have become real toothy smiles. Cute as they are, your child’s baby teeth are placeholders for their adult teeth so it’s really important to take good care of them.
We caught up with dentist Dr Kestrel Imamura from Sydney to find out about baby dental care, making teething a breeze and your child’s first visit to the dentist…
Newborns have 20 baby teeth buried in their gums which have usually emerged by the time a child turns three. “Generally the two lower front teeth appear first, usually between 6-10 months,” says Dr Imamura. “However, some will erupt much later and some a lot sooner. Amazingly, some babies are actually born with one or more teeth.”
Most parents are all too familiar with the unsettled and clingy behaviour that accompanies teething. Soothing gels such as Bonjela can provide relief or you can try gently rubbing your baby’s gums.
Another simple and cheap trick Dr Imamura suggests is to roll up a clean washcloth, soak it with water and pop it in the freezer. Chomping on the frozen cloth creates a slight numbing effect and brings relief to sore and swollen gums.
“There is also a plethora of teething toys on the market if you prefer something cuter than a washcloth,” she says.
It is just as important to keep baby teeth clean and free of decay as you would with adult teeth. Baby or primary teeth keep spaces in your child’s mouth for when their permanent teeth are ready to erupt. Premature loss of baby teeth can cause movement of adjacent teeth and ultimately lack of room for the adult teeth to come through.
Looking after baby teeth is pretty simple. Dr Imamura suggests:
To ensure your child’s teeth and gums are healthy, it’s recommended that they are checked by a dentist by the time they are 2 years old. Your child’s first dental visit should just be about familiarising them with the dental setting.
“Masks, gloves and glasses can be pretty daunting for adults let alone little ones,” says Dr Imamura. “Give your child a chance to get used to being at the dentist by taking them with you on your 6 monthly check ups. When they start their own checkups, don’t be upset if it takes a couple of visits before they will open their mouth. Most children warm up eventually and can’t wait to get in the chair.”