After months of preparation – painting the nursery, picking out patterns, shopping for endless baby gear, reading every book ever written on caring for a baby – it finally happened…your baby is here! Now you get to put into action everything you learned in your baby classes. Perhaps you didn’t get instructions on caring for your baby’s mouth (or perhaps the lack of sleep your getting has altered your memory!) so here is an overview of what you should know.
My advice as a dentist:
Cleaning a baby’s mouth before they have teeth is important because plaque and bacteria begin to build up in a baby’s mouth within the first few days after birth. To clean your baby’s mouth, it is suggested that you wipe and massage the baby’s gums and cheeks with a clean, soft, damp cloth or gauze twice a day. By starting a dental health care routine now, it will be easier for you and your baby to incorporate a brushing routine later.
My advice as a real world dad:
Ummm, in the midst of changing 15+ diapers a day, multiple feedings, being woke up every few hours … did my wife and I clean our babies’ mouths twice a day? Heck no! Don’t feel bad if you don’t either. The important idea here is to not let your baby’s mouth go un-cleaned the whole time during their developmental process. The more you make it a habit now, the better off you’ll be in the long run.