Oral Hygiene
Diet
Nursing Caries
Fluoride
Sealants

Oral Hygiene

You should clean your baby's mouth, even before she has teeth, by gently wiping the gums with a piece of gauze or a washcloth. As your infant's teeth emerge, it is time to begin a planned home dental care program. Clean your baby's teeth with a child-sized toothbrush with soft bristles and let him play and chew on the toothbrush. The goal is removal of plaque. If it is difficult to use a toothbrush, you can continue using a washcloth to wipe the surfaces of the teeth, thereby removing plaque. When primary teeth are present that abut one another, dental floss can be used.

Parents will need to supervise children's tooth brushing until they have mastered the manual dexterity to accomplish this task independently. Each child masters these skills at a different age. Dr. Blumenthal will design a personalized program for home care for your child.