Teething babies should not drink milk at night.
When taking a baby for their first dental checkup, the best options are pediatric departments within specialized dental hospitals, followed by pediatric dentistry departments in children's hospitals and maternity and childcare centers, and finally, the dental department in general hospitals. The dentists in the first three types of hospitals not only have extensive experience treating baby teeth problems, but also possess knowledge of child psychology, which can help minimize a child's fear of dental treatment and correct parents' unhealthy feeding habits.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have their first dental checkup between one week after their first tooth emerges and their first birthday. The first dental checkup is not just about treating dental problems; it also involves the dentist evaluating the parents' feeding habits. To prevent and detect cavities early, it is recommended that parents take their children for dental checkups every 3 months. For children who are 6-7 months old and have already started teething, Professor Zheng Shuguang of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Peking University reminds parents to stop the habit of drinking milk at night, as this habit can easily lead to tooth decay.
In fact, after 6-8 months, if a child has good feeding habits, they can sleep through the night. Drinking milk at night is not only harmful to oral health but also to the child's sleep. If possible, try to avoid drinking milk before bedtime.
After the first tooth emerges, it is important to start cleaning the child's teeth. Parents can use a toothbrush wrapped around a finger or a gauze swab with water to wipe the child's teeth, cleaning once a day. After the child turns one year old, parents can start brushing the child's teeth with a toothbrush, but it is not recommended to use toothpaste.
Start using a toothbrush and toothpaste after 3 years old. Toothpaste must be specifically for children, and should be used in small amounts.Pea-sized. Amount of brushing: 1-3 years old once a day, 3 years old and above twice a day. Brushing teeth: 1~3 years old once a day, 3 years old and above twice a day.
