4 Things Every New Mom Should Know

Dental Care is Prenatal Care

Before you meet your little one, treat yourself to some dental care. Maintaining your oral health during pregnancy through brushing, flossing, and seeing a dentist — which is safe and recommended —can help prevent the spread of germs from you to your baby.

Start early

Within a few days of bringing baby home, begin daily wiping your baby’s gums with a clean washcloth or gauze. This helps start good habits early for both you and baby. Then, when first teeth come in, brush gently with a soft-bristled brush and a rice-size amount of fluoride toothpaste.  Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel which helps prevents cavities

First screening by first birthday

Your baby’s first teeth will begin to poke through between 3-6 months. Those first teeth are the perfect reminder to have your baby’s teeth screened by a dentist or physician by their first birthday.  The  doctor or dentist will take a gentle look around in your baby’s mouth, show you to clean teeth the right way, provide tips on how protect baby teeth (including choosing tooth-healthy snacks) and identify if there are any problems that need attention.

Choose water for thirst

 

To protect your baby’s teeth, water is the best choice for thirst.  It’s easy to forget that juice contains a lot of sugar.  Sugar is bad for teeth and can lead to obesity.  If you put your baby to bed with a bottle, skip the sweet stuff and instead fill the bottle with water.

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Posters

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Mighty Mouth Minutes

Short, topic-based articles to include in your newsletters, or use as a handout.

Infographics

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