Feeding Baby for a Healthy Mouth

The way you feed your baby can affect the health of their teeth. Follow these guidelines when feeding your baby:

• Never put baby to bed with a bottle. Milk can pool in your baby’s mouth and cause cavities. Drinking from a bottle while lying flat can also cause ear infections.
• For babies aged 1 year and older:
  • Limit fruit juice to 4-6 ounces per day.
  • Teach your baby to drink from an open cup by the time they are 12 to 15 months old. Do not let your child walk around with a sippy cup unless it has only water in it..
  • Give only water or plain milk between meals. Keep in mind that milk has sugar.
  • Give lots of fruits and vegetables for snacks. Limit cookies and other sweet treats to special occasions.

Cleaning Baby’s Mouth

You can start caring for your baby’s teeth as soon as those first pearly whites break through the gums. Follow these guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Start to clean your baby’s teeth regularly as soon as they come in. Use an amount of fluoride toothpaste that is about the size of a grain of rice. Progress to an amount that is about the size of a pea by the time your child is 3 years of age. This will reduce the risk of the child swallowing it.
• Clean your child’s teeth twice each day, especially before bed.
• Help your child with tooth brushing until they can do it properly themselves—usually at 7-8 years of age. Try brushing first and then let your child finish up.

Taking Baby to the Dentist

Take your baby to the dentist within 6 months of the first tooth coming in, but do not wait any later than 12 months old. The dentist can help you determine your baby’s risk for developing cavities and give you advice for how to prevent them. Your child’s dentist will:

• Check your baby’s teeth.
• Show you how to clean your baby’s teeth.
• Talk to you about ways to decrease your baby’s risk of cavities, like:
  • Limit snacking and drinks between meals, especially sweets.
  • Give a fluoride supplement if your home’s water supply is not fluoridated. Contact your water supplier to find out if your water is fluoridated. You can also buy home test kits. Fluoride can protect your child’s teeth from decay and may even help to decrease decay that already exists. It is especially helpful for a child whose teeth are still developing.

The dentist may also treat your child’s teeth with a fluoride solution during the visit.

Good oral health is important for your baby, even before they have any permanent teeth. By starting healthy habits now, you can help your child have a healthy mouth for a lifetime!