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Baby teeth
Odd question, but I thought I'd ask. Since Kylie has got her first two teeth coming in, I'm not too sure some of the stuff I should do. I've been told that they need to see a dentist when the first come in, or no later than their first birthday. Is this really necessary? What do they do there? And do I need to actually clean her teeth? They've just barely started to poke through the gum, but I can see and feel both. Also, are dental visits for a baby expensive as adults? My husband and I both have dental insurance but didn't add Kylie because we didn't think she would need it---so we won't be able to add her till next year and will have to pay out of pocket till then.
Yeah. DH has bad teeth (no sure if that's because he loves soda or what) and I don't want her to have problems.
I was horrible with my teeth as a child/teenager. I come from a family with soft teeth and my lack of dental hygiene was no help. After getting pregnant with my oldest she pretty well sapped all my tooth boosting goodies and I ended up having to have every single tooth pulled. Yes, they were that bad by the time I was 18! I have had false teeth ever since. Because of this I'm a little fanatical about my kids dental health. I start brushing their gums BEFORE they even get teeth. Gum disease can cause issues with teeth before they even erupt. I typically only do it once a day.
As long as you aren't applying hard pressure and it doesn't seem to bother her you should be good to go. Some babies actually even LIKE it, especially when teething because the counter pressure on their gums feels good. Lily actually LAUGHS when I brush her teeth or feel her gums to see if teeth are breaking through yet!
Just remember that while you may have excellent genetics as far as your teeth go, Kylie has another whole half of hers that are different. Even the combination of the two could result in her being genetically predisposed to dental issues. It's best to start oral care as soon as possible and keep it up. The more you do it, the more she will be apt to continue it out of habit as she gets older!
As long as you aren't applying hard pressure and it doesn't seem to bother her you should be good to go. Some babies actually even LIKE it, especially when teething because the counter pressure on their gums feels good. Lily actually LAUGHS when I brush her teeth or feel her gums to see if teeth are breaking through yet!
Just remember that while you may have excellent genetics as far as your teeth go, Kylie has another whole half of hers that are different. Even the combination of the two could result in her being genetically predisposed to dental issues. It's best to start oral care as soon as possible and keep it up. The more you do it, the more she will be apt to continue it out of habit as she gets older!
Yeah...the sugary part is the weakness, lol. Everybody LOVES to feed her sweet sugary foods. We try to limit it, but cutting it out isn't realistic. (especially when we all eat a lot of bad foods and she likes to grab and eat it herself) I have a baby brush that I can clean them with, I just worry it is too rough or something. And I didn't know if it was needed since they've just barely started to come in. As a note----I'm bad myself with my teeth (it's disgusting maybe, but I don't often brush) and my teeth are good. No cavities, nothing. Dentists think it's because I only drink water and such. I just don't want her to get my bad habits.
I always go by the 1 yr rule. They really just look at them to make sure there are no issues with things like baby bottle tooth decay etc.
It's best to use one of those soft brushes or a wash cloth and ATLEAST wipe her teeth and gums off once or twice a day. I use the infant toothpaste and soft fingertip brush. I think she'll be fine waiting until next year to get her to a dentist so long as you keep her teeth clean, limit sugary substances and keep an eye on them for any problems!
It's best to use one of those soft brushes or a wash cloth and ATLEAST wipe her teeth and gums off once or twice a day. I use the infant toothpaste and soft fingertip brush. I think she'll be fine waiting until next year to get her to a dentist so long as you keep her teeth clean, limit sugary substances and keep an eye on them for any problems!
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