Baby Face Rash Cheeks

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Orthodontist Washington DC Teeth Care For Babies

If you have a baby or infant at home, it is important that you start practicing oral hygiene right away to set them up for long-term health in the care of their teeth. These practices make a serious difference in preventing tooth decay and mouth irritation, and they will also help your child to learn good oral care habits as they get older.

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Keep reading for numerous practical guidelines.

It is important to start caring for your baby’s teeth after they are born.  After your baby is done feeding, make sure to gently wash their mouth with a washcloth to prevent any fungal infection caused by yeast.  This can be caused by breast-feeding or sucking on a bottle to create a painful infection in the mouth.  This condition is called thrush, and white patches will appear on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. Your child may also have patches on the face and pain when breast-feeding or sucking on a pacifier. If this condition is not treated, the mother could have thrush on the breast, although it normally does not spread.

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Children normally begin teething at around three months, and signs may include drooling, biting, irritability, a rash on the mouth, loss of appetite, crying, fever, or changes in the bowel movement. One way to relieve the pain is to use a cool washcloth to massage the gums. You can also give your baby a cool teething ring, as long as it is age appropriate. It is important to supervise your child when he or she is using a teething ring because it is a potential choking hazard.  You can also discuss with your doctor about over-the-counter numbing products if teething for your child is highly painful.

In some cases, a baby will be born with the lower incisors already grown in. The majority of children will grow in their complete set of 20 baby teeth before they are three years old, which is the opportunity to purchase a children’s toothbrush to start to brush their teeth. Make sure that you cleanse the toothbrush without the use of toothpaste, and you may start using toothpaste at around the age of 18 months. When you purchase toothpaste, make sure that it is child appropriate without fluoride so that there is no danger if your child were to swallow it. There are several brands to choose from in safe children’s toothpaste that won’t cause an issue if they are swallowed.

You can take this opportunity to prevent your child’s teeth from decay by monitoring the food that they eat, especially since it is easy for bacteria to accumulate on baby teeth. It is important to minimize carbohydrates and sugars in the diet to prevent early childhood cavities, and you must not let your child fall asleep with a bottle that contains juice or milk.  These practices will make a difference in protecting the teeth of your child for the long term so that they won’t be plagued with cavities or tooth decay in their baby teeth.