Baby Teeth

Here at Summit View Dental, we understand the importance of baby teeth and the first years of oral care in a child’s life.

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We Understand

Known as primary teeth, baby teeth will usually begin to emerge through your baby’s gums between the ages of six months to one year. The Canadian Dental Association recommends scheduling their child’s first dental appointment within the first year.

This is because, despite eventually being replaced by permanent teeth, baby teeth are very important for your child’s development. Here are a few ways in which healthy baby teeth help your child:

  • Reserve space in the jaw for the permanent teeth growing under the gums

  • Allow for clear speech without impediments

  • Help children chew food thoroughly and painlessly

Some Teething Habit FAQs

How can parents prevent primary tooth decay?

  • Provide your child with a healthy diet. Foods with lots of calcium and vitamin D aid growth of strong teeth. Limit sweet drinks.
  • Reinforce good oral hygiene habits, brushing twice a day. Wash your baby’s gums with a soft washcloth even before the first tooth.
  • Never put your baby to bed with a sippy cup of any liquid other than water.
  • Give your child water in between meals
  • If using a soother, never dip it in sweet substances (such as honey).
  • Practice good oral hygiene. To limit the transfer of harmful oral bacteria to babies, don’t clean pacifiers and teething toys by sucking on them, or share utensils.  Rinse with warm water instead.

Thumb-sucking is a natural reflex for babies; it helps them feel safe and secure. Sucking on a soother or their thumb is generally harmless, but there is a risk that complications may arise.  Continual thumb-sucking and use of pacifiers beyond the age of three to four can cause teeth to misalign, causing crooked teeth and problems with how the jaws bite or fit together.  “Aggressive” suckers can even prevent normal jaw development and constrict the roof of the mouth.

To minimalise the risk of these complications, talk to Dr. Dhesi to find out about orthodontically correct pacifiers or helping your child stop thumb-sucking.

It’s a good idea to begin good oral hygiene as early as possible. Even before your baby’s first tooth, you can gently clean your baby’s gums. Use a washcloth, or an infant toothbrush with soft bristles. As the first tooth arrives, you can begin brushing it with non-flouride toothpaste. A fluoridated toothpaste can be used once your child has learned to spit and does not eat the toothpaste.

Summit View Dental Centre wants to help you practice good oral health for your baby, because we know that establishing good oral habits early will help bring a lifetime of beautiful smiles for your child. Your baby’s first visit to the dentist is an exciting milestone, one that we look forward to celebrating with you!

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Our office is open Monday thru Saturday. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about our clinic or potential appointment booking.

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