There are so many journeys in your baby’s first year of life, and getting their first tooth is certainly one of the biggest. After all, who can resist the adorable, gummy smile of a growing infant? Although your baby’s smile will grow to be unique and adorable, the process can be quite the process for both you and your baby. We asked the same questions that many new parents have when dealing with their baby’s first upcoming teeth: is my baby teething or is it something else? What should I expect when my baby gets their first teeth (or tooth)? When will I be able to sleep through the night again?

Let’s take a look at 3 helpful facts about your baby’s first teeth!

Most Babies Will Develop Their First Teeth at 6mo. – 12 mo. Old

There is a wide range of times when you can expect the first tooth to appear. Some babies may not get their first tooth until after their first birthday! Typically though, when your baby hits 3 months of age, they will start exploring the world using their mouth. This will mean picking things up like toys, car keys, and food to have it in their mouth. They will have increased production of saliva and will even place their hands in their mouth.

Many parents will question if their baby is teething, but their first tooth usually won’t appear for another 3-5 months. The first teeth to appear are usually the bottom two teeth called Central Incisors with the top two popping in shortly after. Lateral Incisors (the teeth directly next to the middle two) will probably come in next at around 9-13 months of age. Parents can rest assured that their baby will more than likely have all their baby teeth grow in by the time they’re age 3.

Give Your Baby Teething Aides to Help with Teething Pain

Parents can help alleviate their baby’s teething pain with simple solutions. Massaging their sore gums with a clean finger, giving them a cold washcloth, or a solid teething toy can help soothe your baby’s teething pain. This pain is felt because the baby’s teeth are breaching the gums to pop out and grow.
Thankfully, teething shouldn’t cause babies too much discomfort, however, it’s easy to tell when a baby is teething. Some signs to look out for include discomfort (audibly or visually) in the area where the tooth is breaching, gums tend to be swollen and tender, and the baby will begin to drool more than usual.

A baby’s body temperature may also rise slightly when teething; however, this could be a sign of an underlying illness as well. To make sure your baby is going through teething properly and safely, talk with your pediatrician regularly about a weight-appropriate dose of acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or if the baby is old enough, ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin). When you consider medication for your baby, be sure to ask your pediatrician for the right dose amount based on your child’s age and weight.

Interestingly enough, many children will show no discomfort at all when their baby teeth come in! Whatever the case may be, make sure you’re making routine visits to your dentist so that teeth come in accordingly.

Introducing Fluoride to Your Baby’s Diet

Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps prevent cavities from forming by strengthening and rebuilding the enamel of teeth. Thankfully, fluoride is often added to tap water to help fight tooth decay. Talk to your dentist about starting your baby on small amounts of tap water (or water with fluoride in it) in a drink cup as you introduce them to solid foods. Always check with your pediatrician to see what fluoride are best for your baby. Sometimes, they can recommend a fluoride supplement if your tap water is not sufficient.

Before 6 months of age, babies still being breastfed or formula-fed do not need fluoride in their diet yet. It is only safe to use fluoridated water to mix in with the formula if your baby if your baby’s pediatrician or dentist approves it as there is a small risk of “fluorosis.” Fluorosis is faint streaking marks on the teeth that happen when young toddlers consume too much fluoride from any source over a period of time. Make an appointment with your baby’s dentist to avoid fluorosis and map out the best possible plan for treating your baby’s first teeth.

Did these 3 Facts About Your Baby’s First Teeth Suprise You?

Baby teeth are crucial to your child’s oral health and development. They will help him or her to chew, begin speaking and smiling. Baby teeth are basically placeholders in the jaws for later adult teeth that are developing under their gums. When a baby tooth is not taken care of, the permanent teeth can shift into empty spaces and cause other adult teeth to push against each other as they come in. Having crowded teeth or teeth that are crooked is a horrible way to start your baby’s life. This is why starting your baby off with good oral health can help start their teeth on the correct growth path for years to come.

To schedule your baby’s first dental visit, contact our professional and pleasant staff here at Mountain View Dental. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment, give us a call today at 385-324-3557!

You’re a new parent and there are so many ‘firsts’ that you’re planning: your child’s first birthday, their first haircut and nail trim, and teaching them their first words! Just as these ‘firsts’ are important to any parent, we want to stress the importance of your baby’s first dentist visit. Yes, new teeth coming in is a scary and unsure time for you and your baby. But, with these helpful tips, we hope to relieve most of your fears about taking your child to the dentist for their first time. After all, your child’s first dentist visit is so important when it comes to preparing them for their next ‘firsts’ in life. Your dentist can provide you with many meaningful preventative care options that will help you map out your child’s oral health options.

Let’s take a look at when you should book your baby’s first dental appointment!

How Old Should My Baby be For their First Dentist Visit?

Your child’s oral health is of the utmost importance. You want them to be ahead from the very beginning by giving them the best healthcare possible. Since you’re keeping track of your baby’s ‘firsts, this tip is easy to remember. In short, take your child in for their first dentist visit no later than their 1st birthday. Another rule of thumb to remember is to take your child in for their first visit by the time their first tooth (or teeth) come(s) in.

There isn’t much to worry about when the first visit rolls around. Usually, the dentist just wants to orient your baby with being at the office while educating parents on the best dental care measures. There is usually no need for concern and more than likely no treatments will happen on this day. However, your dentist will possibly talk you through some type of wellness plan that will help guide you and your baby through best oral health practices.

What Should I Expect at the First Dentist Visit?

This visit will be brief and straightforward, even though it’s definitely one of the most important visits your baby can attend. In the exam room, relationship and trust-building are very important, especially if this dentist will be with your child for a long period of time. Parents may be asked to sit alongside their infant depending on the age and temperament of the child.

The dentist will typically begin by checking any existing teeth that may be coming in (or attempting to come in) to make sure they are coming in nicely and as painlessly as possible. A bite check may also be prepared for your child to look for any potential problems with the gums, jawline, or other oral tissues. If your child is making it to the dentist with existing teeth, they may proceed with a routine, simple cleaning to see if your child will need any fluoride treatments.

After the exam, the parents are educated on what to expect in the coming months and years of their child’s life. Some topics they may cover include:

Best dental hygiene practices for the child’s teeth and gums
Fluoride needs and help with cavity prevention
Addressing any bad oral habits (thumb sucking, teeth grinding, lip biting, or sucking)
Teeth development stages
Teething resources and expectations
Best nutrition recommendations
Wellness plan schedule for future dentist visits.

Protect your Child’s Teeth at Home

There are many practices that you can do for your baby at home, even before their first teeth start to come in. Here are some healthy habits and recommended tips to begin before and after your baby’s first dentist visit:

Clean your baby’s gums with a small, damp cloth before their teeth start to come in.
Begin brushing with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny amount of toothpaste (smaller than a grain of rice) when your child’s first tooth appears. Ask your dentist at your first visit if fluoride toothpaste is recommended.
Prevent tooth decay from your baby’s bottle. Try not to give your baby a bottle of milk or any sweetened drink at bedtime.
Until your child is around the age of 8 (or is showing independent, healthy dental habits), assist your child with brushing their teeth. A fun way to bond with your kid is brushing your teeth alongside them so they can watch what-to-do and not do.
Limit sugary, tasty treats to help prevent tooth decay. Rather than sweets for a treat, try offering them fruits as snacks when they’re young. As they grow up, they won’t start to crave the sugar in juice boxes and candies.

Are You Prepared for Your Child’s First Dentist Visit?

Your baby’s first dentist visit should be just as exciting and rewarding as all the other ‘firsts’ they’re getting to experience. Make sure you notify your dentist ahead of time about any known allergies or health conditions that your child has. Once the first visit is done, your baby will be on their way to developing healthy oral habits and keeping a beautiful smile.

To set up your child’s first dentist visit, contact our professional and pleasant staff here at Mountain View Dental. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment, give us a call today at 385-324-3557!

Dental health is one of the most overlooked aspects to care for during your pregnancy. Just like your body needs to be cared for, the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums is equally as important. When you become pregnant, dental care should become an essential role in your prenatal care. Most don’t realize that being pregnant can increase your risk for oral health problems simply due to other pressures during this sensitive time. These problems can affect your overall experience and pregnancy.

For example, studies have linked some mothers with gum disease to having premature births. Premature babies can have health issues at birth and later in life more so than babies born full-term. Taking good care of your mouth, teeth, and gums during pregnancy can help you have a healthier pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Can Pregnancy Affect your Dental Health?

Your body will be going through many changes during this time. Some changes you can see while other changes are more hormone based. Some of these changes can affect your teeth and gums due to new habits and hormone fluctuations. For example:

You’ll have increased levels of hormones, like progesterone and estrogen. These can increase your risk for certain oral health problems.
You may start craving different foods. Certain foods you eat during pregnancy can affect your dental health. For instance, if you start to eat sugary foods, your teeth and gum health can suffer.
You may start to brush and floss less than you did before your pregnancy. This is usually because you start to feel more tired easily and become busier with doctor visits. For some, brushing and flossing can even cause nausea due to the smell or taste.

What are Signs of Dental Problems During Pregnancy?

Some signs are things someone else may notice about you, like having a rash around the body or excessive coughing. Some other symptoms come on gradually like having a sore throat or feeling dizzy more often than normal.

The most notable signs of dental problems can include:

Bad breath
Loose or moving teeth
Sores or lumps on the gums and in the mouth
Widening spaces between teeth
Receding gums (sometimes with pus build up around the gumline)
Gums that become red, swollen, or tender; gums that bleed when brushing or flossing
Toothaches or gum pain

If you have any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to call your dentist and go over your symptoms. It’s possible to get an infection while pregnant that you may not know exists until getting checked out.

How to Prevent Dental Problems During Pregnancy?

Schedule regular dental visits before, during, and after pregnancy. At your visits, mention to your dentist the following:

If you’re pregnant or will become pregnant in the future
Any medication you’re currently taking or any changes to your current medicine routine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and dietary health needs.
If your pregnancy is considered high-risk, make sure your dentist knows this ahead of time. Alert them of any updates along your pregnancy journey.
If your doctor has mentioned any concerns about your oral health while in the office with you. It’s important that your dentist and doctor’s recommendations coincide together so your pregnancy flows naturally and without complications.

Make sure to notify your dentist of any changes throughout your pregnancy journey. If anything arises, both your doctor and dentist can add preventative measures to help your experience stay safe and healthy.

Have you Considered Special Dental Care During Pregnancy

Pregnancy should be a time of low-stress and abundant health. Just like you would care for your body during this sensitive time, realize that your teeth, gums, and mouth are no different. If you work with your doctor and dentist ahead of time, preventitive measures can be taken to ensure your pregnancy goes smoothly. If you ever have oral health issues while pregnant, be sure to make an appointment and notify your dentist right away.

To help keep your dental care optimized while pregnant, contact our professional and pleasant staff here at Mountain View Dental. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment, give us a call today at 385-324-3557.

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