Infant oral care is the daily cleaning of a baby’s gums and first teeth, plus a dental visit by the first birthday. Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
Baby teeth matter even though they fall out. They hold space for adult teeth and help your child eat and talk, and decay can start soon after the first one appears. The CDC reports that more than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one baby tooth, and habits in the first two years do a lot to change that.
Before the First Tooth: Clean the Gums
Your baby’s mouth needs cleaning before any teeth arrive. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises wiping the gums with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze pad after each feeding. This clears away milk or formula and gets your baby used to having the mouth touched.
Sit your baby in a supported position, wrap the cloth around a finger and wipe along the gums and inside the cheeks. No toothpaste is needed at this stage. White patches that do not wipe off, swelling that lingers or bleeding are worth a call to your baby’s doctor or dentist.
When the First Tooth Comes In
Babies often get their first tooth around six months, but the timing varies a lot, and a baby with no teeth at seven or eight months is not unusual. Once a tooth breaks through, switch from the cloth to a soft, small baby toothbrush and brush twice a day, in the morning and before bed.
The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) advise a smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, from the first tooth until age 3, and a pea-sized amount from 3 to 6. An adult should do the brushing for a baby or toddler. If two teeth start to touch, ask your dentist how to clean between them.
The CDC suggests asking your dentist or doctor about fluoride varnish as soon as the first tooth appears. Varnish is a fluoride treatment for kids that is painted onto the teeth with a small brush, and it adds protection on top of brushing at home.
Teething: What Is Normal and What to Skip
The AAP says babies typically start teething between about 4 and 7 months, and the front teeth usually come first. Common signs include extra drool, a wish to chew on hard things, tender swollen gums and mild irritability. Some babies have a slight rise in temperature.
Gently rubbing the gums with a clean finger or offering a firm rubber teething ring can help. The AAP advises skipping the following:
- Teething gels with numbing medicine, which can be harmful to babies
- Homeopathic teething tablets
- Amber teething necklaces, which do not relieve pain and are a choking and strangulation risk
- Frozen teething rings, which become too hard
A fever above 101°F (38.3°C), or a baby who seems particularly miserable, is not typical of teething. Call your pediatrician in that case.
Bottles, Pacifiers and Sharing Spoons
Sugars in formula, breast milk and juice stay on the teeth when a baby falls asleep with a bottle, which sets the stage for decay. Put your baby to bed without one, and ask us about the pattern known as baby bottle tooth decay if you are worried. The AAP also suggests introducing a cup around the first birthday and making regular tap water the family drink, since it usually contains fluoride.
Cavity-causing bacteria can pass from adult to child. The AAP advises not putting a pacifier in your own mouth to clean it before giving it to your baby, and not tasting your baby’s food from the same spoon.
The First Dental Visit
The AAPD recommends your child’s first dental visit when the first tooth comes in and no later than the first birthday, and the CDC also advises a visit by the first birthday. Whichever comes first is the time to book. That visit is a good moment to ask about bottles, pacifiers and how much toothpaste to use.
After the first visit, your dentist sets a schedule for dental cleanings and exams for children based on your child’s needs. Once a toddler wants to hold the brush, the focus moves to caring for your child’s teeth through the preschool and school years: brushing technique, flossing and habits such as thumb sucking.
Cost and Insurance
The cost of an infant visit depends on what is done at the appointment and on your plan, so ask us for an estimate when you call. We accept PPO plans, and you can ask us how your plan applies to a young child’s visit. For anything your plan does not cover, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, and an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
About the Practice
Redondo Beach Dental Group is a family practice in Redondo Beach that provides dental care for children alongside adult care, so parents and children can be patients at the same office. Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads the practice. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should infant oral care start?
Infant oral care starts in the first days after birth with gentle gum cleaning. The AAP advises wiping a baby’s gums with a damp cloth or gauze after each feeding, then moving to a soft toothbrush when the first tooth comes in.
Does a newborn need oral care?
A newborn does benefit from oral care, even with no teeth. Wiping the gums after feedings removes milk residue and gets the baby used to a daily routine before the first tooth arrives.
Do babies under 1 need toothpaste?
A baby with no teeth does not need toothpaste, only a damp cloth on the gums. Once the first tooth appears, the ADA and the AAPD advise a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice until age 3.
How do dentists clean a 1 year old’s teeth?
A dentist cleans a 1 year old’s teeth as part of an exam, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry lists cleaning the teeth and removing stains or deposits as needed among the steps for a child of this age, along with a cavity-risk check and advice for parents. What happens at a given visit depends on the child, so ask us what to expect when you book.
How painful is a baby’s first tooth?
A baby’s first tooth can cause tender, swollen gums, extra drool, a wish to chew and some fussiness. According to the AAP, rubbing the gums with a clean finger or offering a firm rubber teething ring can help, while numbing gels, teething tablets and amber necklaces should be skipped.
Can a 3 month old go to the dentist?
A 3 month old usually has no teeth yet, and the AAPD recommends a first dental visit when the first tooth comes in and no later than the first birthday. If you notice something unusual in a younger baby’s mouth, call your pediatrician, or call us to ask whether a visit makes sense.
Is it okay to put my baby to bed with a bottle?
Putting a baby to bed with a bottle is not advised, because sugars in formula, breast milk and juice linger on the teeth and can lead to decay. The AAP recommends putting your baby to sleep without a bottle.
Book an Infant Oral Care Visit in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online to ask about a visit for your baby.