You want to choose the right foods when introducing your baby to a solid food diet. You also want to make sure they’re eating the right foods for their newly forming teeth, so consult your pediatric dentist for recommendations. Babies should be fed breast milk or formula almost exclusively until six months of age, after which they can transition to solid foods. Try to introduce natural, soft foods like mild cereals, sweet potatoes, bananas, and avocados.

Introducing Tooth-Safe Foods to Babies

4-6 Months

• Babies will typically get their first teeth between four to seven months of age. However, they will still need foods with a soft consistency that don’t require chewing. Try introducing warm cereals, like oatmeal watered down with breast milk. Some dentists recommend letting your baby gnaw on a raw carrot to strengthen her jaw muscles, as long as you watch them carefully, so they don’t choke. 

6-8 Months

• After six months, you can start to introduce puréed fruits and vegetables like peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, bananas, and pears. You can also introduce proteins, like puréed chicken, beef, and lentils. As a rule, wait about four days after trying a new food before introducing another one to screen for allergies and other reactions.

8-10 Months

• After eight months you can start introducing textures and combinations. Fibrous fruits and veggies, including blueberries and broccoli, are a good bet, as well as tofu. 

10-12 Months

• After 10 months, your baby will start to tolerate soft, non-puréed foods, such as eggs and pasta, as well as more acidic foods like tomatoes. Make sure anything solid is cut up into small, bite-sized pieces and is soft enough to be broken down with the gums.

Four Corners Dental Group in Anchorage, AK, is dedicated to caring for the oral health of the whole family, with services ranging from family dentistry to cosmetic dentistry. You’ll want to take your baby for their first visit to the pediatric dentist by their first birthday to go over proper diet and oral care for strong, healthy teeth. Call (907) 258-3384 to schedule an appointment, and learn more about the best foods for your baby’s developing teeth.