Oral Health is important for people of all ages. It is as important for children as it is for adults. Oral health should be taken care of since birth. It does not necessarily have to involve teeth but also involves gums, oral mucosa and microbiome.
Newborn
During pregnancy mother is mostly involved with other body concerns and oral health is often ignored. However, during pregnancy few hormones of the body mostly progesterone rises which aggravates the oral health. After birth, a child is in intimate contact with mother and these microbes have a chance of transmission from mother to baby. So, in these conditions mother should not ignore their oral health but should brush and floss daily and consult a dentist for expert guidance.
0 to 5 months old
During this period, child is only on milk. Teeth has not started to show up. During these times parents are often not considered about the oral hygiene as the teeth have not erupted. After feeding on milk they are put to sleep. Their gums should be wiped with a damp cloth to remove the remnants of milk as they disturb the microbiome and cause bad breath. These might also cause various problems in body
6 to 12 months old
Baby's first tooth start erupting. This is the time when child's brushing should be started. Parents should start brushing child's teeth twice daily with kids toothpaste. And the gums should be wiped off with a cloth. As per the pediatrician's advice children should be prohibited from having salt and sugar for at least a year.
1 Year of Age
A child's tooth start erupting by 6 to 7 months of age and by their first birthday a few teeth appear in their mouth. Since, parents had already started with their daily routine of brushing . It is a time for first dental checkup. A dentist advices them preventive measures to maintain their oral health. They also look into various oral habits which should be broken by a particular age. Apart from that the type of brush and paste which should be used and also regarding the scheduling of their next dental visit.