Infant Well Baby Oral Exam
Every child should have an infant oral exam by the age of 1 or as soon as possible. Infants get their first tooth when they are 6-7 months of age and brushing should become part of the normal routine.
Brush your child’s teeth two times a day, once in the morning and after the last feeding in the evening. A small smear of fluoridated toothpaste can be used to help protect these new teeth.
Six Steps of the Infant Well Baby Oral Exam
Caries Risk Assessment
In this step Dr. Sandhu assess the caries risk of the child based on the child's general/dental health and diet
Clinical Oral Exam
In this step Dr. Sandhu will perform a visual inspection of the soft tissues and teeth
Knee to knee exam
Infant exams are done in a knee to knee position with the dentist and parent instead of the dental chair
Fluoride Varnish Application
Fluoride varnish is then applied to all the teeth. Based on your child's Caries Risk, Dr. Sandhu will customize a periodic visit schedule for your child
Age appropriate Tooth Cleaning
Dr. Sandhu then proceeds to clean the child's teeth while demonstrating the right technique for the parents to follow
Anticipatory Guidance
In the final step, our staff will give you valuable insights and best practices on how to manage brushing, diet and establish good oral habits for your child
How much toothpaste should be used?
Smear for Ages 0-2 years
Pea-sized for Ages 3 and above
Tips for better oral health
Pacifier and Thumb Sucking
Pacifiers, thumb and finger Sucking are a natural reflex and necessary for feeding; however prolonged sucking habits can cause problems with growth and development and the tooth alignment of permanent teeth. Children should stop using pacifiers by the age of 2-3 and stop sucking their fingers or thumb by age 3-4. If you and your child find this challenging, we have several tools and tips that we can provide to make it a success.
Brushing your infant's teeth
Dr. Sandhu recommends usings a finger brush or wash cloth to clean your infant's teeth. As they get older, you can use a manual or even electric toothbrush with a fluoridated toothpaste (see recommendations for how much toothpaste to use above). You should brush your infant's teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each. Dr. Sandhu can give you some friendly recommendations on effective ways to manage brushing for your child during your visit.
Diet and Sleeping with a bottle
Tooth decay can begin as soon as teeth come in, but can be prevented with good oral care. It is important to establish healthy eating habits to help keep your child cavity free. Breast milk, formula, and even natural juices all contain sugar; this is why we advise parents to never put your child to bed with a bottle or sippy cup containing anything except water. Limit sugar exposure by giving these drinks at meal time only. Limit between meal snacks, and encourage your child to drink water throughout the day.
Baby Teeth are Important
Baby teeth (milk/decidous teeth) are very important and help your child in eating, speaking and smiling. They help maintain space for permanent teeth to come in and early loss of baby teeth can lead to orthodontic (spacing) issues. Moreover, tooth pain can affect your child's ability to eat and learn in school. By visiting a dentist early, you help reinforce the importance of good oral health and the child has a positive attitude towards future dental visits, hence putting them on a positive health trajectory.