Tips On Baby Gum Care

One of the most beautiful sights in the world is a baby’s smile. To maintain this smile it is important that you prioritise oral hygiene right from the moment of your child’s birth. Especially when it comes to baby gum care, you need to start even before teething begins.

While dental care can start off as being easy, when your baby begins the teething process, you will gradually have to begin putting in more efforts.

So, would you like to know what you should avoid doing and how you can take better care of your baby’s gums?

Just keep reading!

Some Common Dos and Don’ts

There are a few tips that you should follow in order to make sure that you are following the right kind of baby gum care process. There are mainly three stages of which you should be aware, and these are before teething, during teething, and after teething.

Before Teething

Here are some things you can do before your baby begins the teething process. This phase usually begins right from birth and lasts until the baby is 6 months old.

Do(s)

Moisten a soft cloth in lukewarm water and use it to clean your baby’s gums, especially after feeding and before bedtime.
After every meal, make sure that your baby drinks water as it will help wash off any leftover food particles in its mouth.

Don’t(s)

Don’t use a toothbrush or a toothpaste at this stage of your infant’s growth.
Don’t send your baby to bed directly after drinking milk or formula as that can cause a lot of bacteria to develop inside the mouth.

During Teething

This phase is uncomfortable for children and it begins around the time they are 6 months old and lasts till they reach two years of age. As teeth begin to push through the gums and make their way out, here is what you should and should not do.

Do(s)

• Massage your baby’s gums with clean hands by gently rubbing and pressing them.
• Provide your child with teething rings that they can suck on to relieve the pain.

Don’t(s)

Don’t give your baby anything that is small enough to choke on.
Don’t let your child use pacifiers for long periods at a stretch as this can wear out the gums.

After Teething

This is the phase when your child’s teeth start coming out. This usually happens after the baby turns two years old.

Do(s)

• Use a super soft brush to brush your child’s teeth in gentle circular motions.
• Try to brush the tongue of the baby as the tongue has bacteria too.

Don’t(s)

• Don’t use the toothpaste till your child’s teeth come out fully. Till then, just wet the toothbrush with water.
• Don’t use a toothbrush after it is worn out as it may damage the gums.

Parting Advice

Make sure that baby gum care goes hand in hand with ensuring good dental as well as overall hygiene. Because babies have the tendency to suck their thumbs during the teething stage, you should ensure that your child’s fingers remain clean.

Further, if you see some unusual symptoms such as extreme discomfort, fever  during teething, or incessant crying, then you should contact your paediatrician immediately.

#babycare #teethingbaby