If you are a new parent, you may be concerned about the future health of your little one's teeth and gums. A baby's teeth typically start to erupt around the time the child reaches six months of age. However, some children will start to teethe a bit earlier or later than others. 

Regardless of the exact timing of your child's teething process, it is important to take measures to protect your baby's oral health. Here are several things you can do to keep your child's teeth and gums in optimal shape.

Start Cleaning Your Child's Mouth Before the Teeth Erupt

Instead of waiting until your child's teeth emerge to clean their mouth, start wiping down the child's gums before the teeth are ever visible. Even though the teeth have not broken through the gums, plaque can still be damaging to the child's oral health.

The plaque, which is a combination of the residue from the food or drinks your child ingested and oral bacteria, is a sticky substance that readily adheres to the surfaces of your little one's oral cavities. As the bacteria in the plaque release acids, the corrosive substances eat inflame the gums and demineralize any exposed tooth enamel.

To minimize the plaque in the baby's mouth, the gums should be wiped with a damp washcloth after each feeding.

Schedule a Dental Visit

Your child's first dental appointment should occur soon after the arrival of their first teeth. By receiving professional dental care early, the child can become accustomed to routine dental services and avoid dental fears. Also, the dentist can detect issues such as bite problems that may occur early in your child's oral development.

Make Sure Your Home Is Safe for Kids

Many accidents result in damage to a child's mouth or teeth. However, some of these unfortunate events could be avoided if the homes where the accidents occurred were childproof.

Although some accidents are not preventable, by covering hard components of chairs, tables, and other furnishings, your child is less likely to suffer a serious mouth injury when a collision occurs. Be sure to pay special attention to sharp corners or edges. Also, don't allow your child to venture onto wet floors, and have the youngster use a mouthguard as they become old enough to participate in sports.

To learn more ways to protect your child's dental health, schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist in your area.