As you watch your infant child grow before your very sleepy eyes, you’ll want to prepare for all of your child’s firsts: first laugh, first word, first step. It’s hard to prepare your child for all of their firsts, but you can at least take a step in the right direction by preparing for your child’s first tooth.

Dental hygiene and dental care are essential, no matter how old your child is and even if there aren’t any teeth to care for yet. Before your child’s first tooth comes in, here are a few things you can do as a parent to ensure a good first trip to a children’s dentist:

• Only give your child milk or water. Make sure you only use formula, milk, breast milk or water in bottles as new teeth are especially sensitive to sugary juices or sodas.
• Before your child’s teeth come in, gently wipe your child’s gums with a clean and damp washcloth after feedings. Teething is quite uncomfortable for babies, so provide teething rings to help relieve the pain.
• At the first sign of a tooth, look for a children's dentist. They will perform a routine dental exam to make sure that your baby’s teeth are coming in healthy. At home, begin brushing your child's teeth with a dab of toothpaste.

For more information on pediatric dentistry or to schedule a teeth cleaning for your little one, call the Pediatric Dental Group at (808) 593-8828 for the Honolulu office or (808) 245-2131 for the Lihue office.