Dubai, UAE- Seeing your baby get their first tooth is an exciting milestone. As more teeth come in, parents realize that it’s time to start brushing and flossing. Even so, a lot of parents let their children be and delay getting them used to good oral care habits.

It comes as a surprise for these parents that tooth decay can start as early as 1 year of age. This is why pediatric dentists strongly recommend starting oral care routines right from the day your baby is born.

“Parents should start gum care from the day your little one is born, much before the first teeth comes out,” says Dr. Yasmin, one of Dubai’s best pediatric dentists. “During your baby’s early days, you should use a soft cloth or infant toothbrush to gently clean their gums and mouth during bath time. This will help you set a routine from the start.”

According to AAPD, your baby should also have their first dental appointment at the age of 1 or right after their first tooth appears, whichever comes first. During their checkup, your kid’s dentist will assess their oral development, gum, and teeth health and provide guidance on establishing healthy habits. The idea is to set up a ‘Dental Home’ thereby ensuring your child’s dental health, and helping them to get used to the checkups in the long run.

At home, parents are asked to follow some easy guidelines to help take care of their little ones' teeth.
Children between the age 4 months to 2 years may show signs of teething, accompanied by discomfort. In these cases, parents can offer them chilled teething rings to ease their pain.
You must also ensure that your baby is not sleeping with a bottle of milk or fruit juice as it encourages bacterial attacks on their teeth all night long.
Toddlers are more aware of their surroundings and can easily get on with a routine. So parents should help them develop the habit of oral care, by brushing their teeth and encouraging them to make it a routine twice a day - once in the morning and once at night, right before going to bed.
Toddlers must also visit their pediatric dentist every 6 months for their dental checkups. During these scheduled visits, check with your kid’s dentist about their fluoride requirements and whether they need supplements.
Parents must also monitor their children’s snacking habits and fruit juice intake, as both these habits invite increased bacterial activity in their mouth leading to cavities. Toddlers must not have snacks more than 3 times a day.
Flossing is just as important as brushing your baby’s teeth once adjacent teeth come in and start touching each other after 2.5 years of age.

“By the time your little one is around 3 years, you must also consider weaning him off of pacifiers and discourage him from thumb or finger sucking” continues Dr. Yasmin. “Sucking on pacifiers or fingers for a longer time period can make the upper front teeth protrude out, requiring orthodontic intervention in future.”

Toddlerhood is the right time to establish good oral habits through imitation. When teaching your children the best way to take care of their teeth, it is best to follow the same rules and show them by example. Good oral habits should run in the family to ensure consistency. For more information on infant and toddler dental health, consult with Dr. Yasmin Kottait, one of the best kid’s dentists in Dubai.

About Dr. Yasmin: Dr. Yasmin Kottait is an award winning-specialist and one of the best kids dentists in Dubai. With more than 16 years of experience in pediatric dentistry, she is a real-life “tooth fairy” who is dedicated to spreading smiles and healthy oral habits in children. As a renowned name and face in the field of pediatric dentistry, Dr. Yasmin is also one of the few Autism friendly dentists in the region, with a diploma in Cognitive Based Hypnotherapy and IBCCES Autism certification.