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If you are new parents, you may not be aware that dental care and cavity prevention for your child's baby teeth should start long before the teeth even appear. In fact, according to Pedodontic Associates, Inc.—Oahu and Maui, HI's best children's dentist office—the baby teeth begin to develop around the second trimester, and when your newborn arrives, all twenty of their primary teeth should be present in their jaw.

To protect your child from cavities on their baby teeth, here are a few prevention steps you should take as their teeth develop:

  • Cleaning Before Tooth Eruption: After you breast or bottle feed your baby, be sure to use a damp, cool washcloth to clean his or her gums. This will help to prevent bacteria buildup within their mouth and will help to acclimate your child to regular dental care.

  • dental careCleaning After Tooth Eruption: Around six months, you should see your child's first teeth start to come in. When only a few are present, you can continue using a washcloth to clean them. As more teeth begin coming in over the next two and half years, swap the cloth out for a small, soft-bristled toothbrush. It is not necessary to use toothpaste during the infant years. The soft bristles and water are enough to thoroughly clean their teeth and gums.

  • Avoid Sugary Juices At Bedtime: One of the quickest ways for young children to develop tooth decay is by going to bed with a juice bottle. As they fall asleep, the sugars lingering in their mouth eat away at their tooth enamel, making it difficult to prevent cavities.

  • Visit A Pediatric Dentist: It is recommended that children should start seeing a dentist by the time they turn one. This will help you better take care of their teeth and prevent cavities and tooth decay. Also, as the child ages, it will help to instill a good sense of oral health care.

If it is time for your child to start seeing a pediatric dentist, Pedodontic Associates Inc. has been providing comprehensive dental care for infants for over 25 years. To schedule an appointment at one of their three locations, call (808) 487-7933 for the Aiea location, (808) 735-1733 for the Honolulu office, and (808) 877-0066 for the Kahului location. If you'd like to learn more about Oahu and Maui's best children's dentist, visit them online.

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