Dental Care for Babies | The Neem Tree Dental Practices (2023)

    Dental Care for Babies | The Neem Tree Dental Practices (1)

    Dental Care for Babies | The Neem Tree Dental Practices (2)

    Contact us today to join the Neem Tree family

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    • Experienced with children
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    Dental care for babies is an essential part of their overall health. Baby teeth begin to erupt from around 6 months and you should start cleaning them as soon as they do. It is important for them to visit a dentist not long after their first tooth appears.

    “My family and I have been with the practice for 10 years, and between us we have had multiple treatments and check-ups, always to a high standard and care.”

    No one likes visiting the dentist – babies especially! When you join the Neem Tree family you can be sure of a calming, relaxing environment designed to make your baby feel as safe and comfortable as possible.

    Once your baby’s first tooth appears, it’s important that you bring them along to the dentist. We can monitor their dental health and ensure their teeth come through in the correct alignment, watch out for overbites or underbites, and make sure their teeth and gums stays clean and healthy.

    It’s also important for your baby to get used to the dentist at an early age to grow used to the sights and smells of the practice. Studies have shown that positive early experiences greatly reduce the chance of having a fear of the dentist!

    Dental Care for Babies at the Neem Tree

    We are a family-run practice and we know exactly how important gentle care and a relaxed environment are to your children. Our specialists are experts in providing gentle, pain-free dental care for babies.

    Not only canour specialistscheck that the teeth are developing normally, but they also provide advice and guidance on keeping your baby’s teeth and gums healthy from home. However, if there are any concerns before this, do not hesitate to contact us sooner!

    Contact us today to find out more about dental care for babies from our practices inEsher, SurreyorWandsworth, South West London.

    Fee Guide

    Children’s (years 1-11) Dental Health Check-upfrom £45
    Babies (up to 12 months) Check-upFree (Parent must be registered patient)

    Learn more about dental care for babies.

    When should I first bring my baby to the dentist?

    Most dental experts recommend that you should take your child to the dentist within 6 months of their first tooth erupting or if they start teething late it would still be a good idea to bring them in within the first year of after their birth.

    By this time, the dentist can assess your baby’s mouth for baby bottle decay, teething, as well as their finger-sucking and pacifier habits.

    At the first visit, give the dentist your child’s complete health history. The initial appointment is usually just a cursory assessment of your child’s overall oral health and mostly to help your child feel comfortable with the dentist. This first visit will usually last between 30 to 45 minutes.

    Just like adults, children should visit the dentist every 6 months. Some dentists may recommend to schedule visits more often such as every 3 months in order to build up the child’s comfort and confidence. Dentists often recommend for you to take your children with you to your own appointments to get them used to the dentist in hopes that it will make them less afraid.

    Contact us today to book your baby’s first dentist appointment in either Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

    What happens at my baby’s first dentist appointment?

    Protect your child’s teeth by starting dental checkups early. Depending on your child’s age, they should have their first dentist appointment when their first milk teeth appear. This will allow for our dentists to examine any kind of early baby bottle decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. The most important part of bringing your child to their first appointment is getting them comfortable with the dentist.

    When you visit the dentist it is important to be positive about it with your child and make the trip fun. Our dentists are trained to create a positive and fun atmosphere for children. We insist that we make our practice the most comfortable place for children to have fun with their oral hygiene and not to worry about future visits.

    To find our more about what happens at your baby’s dental appointment, contact our practices in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

    When do babies start to teeth?

    All babies begin to teeth at different ages. Some babies are actually born with their first teeth whereas others start teething between 4 to 6 months and some after 12 months. Do not be worried if your child starts teething either late or early. After 12 months, even if your baby’s teeth have not yet erupted, it would be a good idea to book a dentist appointment just for an assessment of your child’s oral health.

    If your baby has started to teeth, bring them in to one of our practices in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey for an appointment.

    My baby is teething – what should I do?

    Baby teeth normally start erupting at around 6 months and the teething pains can be quite distressing for mother and baby. Teething rings and gels can help sooth your baby’s pain and occasionally pain killers may be required. If this is the case, always follow the instructions that come with the medicine and if you are ever unsure contact your GP, Dentist or Pharmacist.

    Contact us today to find out more about dental care for babies from our practices in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

    Do dummies and thumb sucking damage babies’ teeth?

    If it is possible, avoid using dummies and allowing thumb sucking. Giving a baby a pacifier or thumb sucking while they are still babies and not started teething yet, will not harm your baby’s teeth but they will encourage an open bite when they begin teething, which is when the teeth move to make space for the dummy or thumb. If they are used for a persistent amount of time, they can affect the positioning and structure of teeth later on in life. That will also affect their speech development. This is why you should avoid using dummies after your child reaches 12 months old.

    There are some ‘orthodontic’ dummies that can reduce the risk of developing such problems and can be used as an alternative.

    To find out more about keeping your baby’s teeth and gums healthy in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey, contact us today to book an appointment.

    What are neonatal teeth?

    Some babies are born with teeth, these are known and neonatal teeth. They are present at birth and are not permanent. They are considered as ‘extra’ teeth. They usually do not cause any dental health problems for your baby but may make breastfeeding difficult and might be painful.

    These neonatal teeth usually fall out on their own but if they prove to be a persistent problem, it would be worth contacting your midwife or dentist to get some extra advice on what to do.

    Contact us today to learn more about your baby’s dental health from our practices in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

    When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?

    As soon as you see your baby’s teeth emerging, you can start to brush your baby’s teeth. Use a baby toothbrush with a tiny smear of child-friendly fluoride toothpaste.

    To learn more about how to keep your baby’s teeth healthy, including brushing instructions, contact our practices in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

    Should you brush baby teeth?

    Cleaning your babies teethshould be done as soon as they start to erupt. A pea sized amount of child-friendly fluoride toothpaste should be used the last thing before bed and once in the morning. Encouraging them to get into good habits from an early age is beneficial, so get them involved too!

    Contact our practices in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey to find out more about baby dental health and to join the Neem Tree family.

    Does milk damage a baby’s teeth?

    Milk is a great source of calcium for your growing baby that also makes their teeth strong and healthy. Breast milk is the best food for babies containing all the extra nutrients your baby needs. Breast milk substitutes given through a bottle can contain sugars, so it is important to clean your baby’s teeth afterwards. Natural sugars are also present in natural breast milk but are unlikely to be harmful to your baby’s teeth as long as they are kept clean.

    All types of milk can cause cavities if they are inappropriately consumed. For example, cavities on the upper front teeth can develop if a baby with teeth is put to bed with the bottle of milk in their mouth.

    Book an appointment in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey to learn more about keeping baby teeth healthy.

    Is mouthwash safe for babies?

    Mouthwash is not safe for babies. Alcohol-free mouthwash is safe for children in small quantities however should not be consumed by any child under the age of six.

    To learn more about how to keep your baby’s teeth and gums healthy, book an appointment in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

    How to clean your baby’s teeth

    You can start cleaning your baby’s teeth by using a small soft toothbrush and water. Even if your baby’s teeth haven’t erupted, it’s good to clean those gums and get your baby used to the routine of cleaning their mouth. At 18 months, you should start to use a pea sized amount of low-fluoride toothpaste to brush your child’s teeth.

    It is important to encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste but be sure not to rinse after. Be sure to clean all surfaces of the present teeth and gums twice a day, after breakfast and before bed.

    To find out more about how to clean your baby’s teeth, contact us in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey.

    When should you brush your baby’s teeth?

    You should start cleaning your baby’s teeth as soon as they start to erupt. Use a pea sized amount of child-friendly fluoride toothpaste with a soft bristled children’s toothbrush. You should brush their teeth right before they go to bed at night and once in the morning. Starting this routine from a very young age will help get your child into good oral hygiene habits from an early age, so get them involved too!

    Making brushing fun will encourage your kids to want to brush their teeth rather than see it as a chore they would rather not do.

    Book an appointment in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey to learn more about cleaning your baby’s teeth.

    Is fluoride toothpaste safe for babies and toddlers?

    Before a baby’s teeth come in, you can help remove bacteria from their mouths by wiping their mouth with a soft cloth.

    When milk teeth are still beginning to emerge, fluoride toothpaste helps the enamel to develop so that it becomes as hard as it needs to be in order to resist cavities and decay. Babies only need a very small smear of toothpaste, no more than a grain of rice to begin with.

    To minimise the risk of swallowing the toothpaste, try angling your baby’s head slightly downwards so any extra toothpaste will dribble out of their mouth. It is okay if your baby or toddler does swallow a small amount of toothpaste. As long as you are using the recommended amount of toothpaste, you should not be worried.

    To find out more about keeping baby teeth and gums healthy, contact us in Wandsworth, South West London or Esher, Surrey to book an appointment.

    Glossary

    Baby bottle decay
    Tooth decay that sometimes occurs in infants and children which is often caused by liquids given to them clinging to the teeth for long periods.

    Eruption
    Eruption is when a tooth breaks through the gum to appear visibly in the mouth.

    Primary teeth
    Primary teeth are also known as baby teeth. The first set of 20 temporary teeth that usually fall out individually between the ages of 6 and 12.

    Permanent teeth
    The teeth that replace primary/baby teeth. Usually all adults will have 32 adult teeth in a complete dentition.

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