By PAPHR

Dental Health Basket for First Baby Born in Dental Health Month

Apr 7, 2011 | 1:18 PM

Photo: “Presented with the first Dental Health Month Baby basket, new mom Uyen Nguyen looks on to her little bundle of joy, baby girl An”.- photo submitted by Cathleen Lesperance, PAPHR

April welcomes spring and Dental Health Month with the arrival of a new bundle of joy.

After a cold winter, we all welcome the signs of spring in April, which is also Dental Health Month.

This year, to celebrate Dental Health Month, the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region -Dental Health Promotions program is welcoming the arrival of the first Dental Health Month Baby born in April.

To celebrate this new bundle of joy and promote dental health awareness in the community, a basket full of dental goodies and resources was provided to excited and new mother Uyen Nguyen.

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The basket contains toothbrushes, floss and paste for the new parents but also baby washcloths and finger cots to clean and wipe new baby girls’ gums daily.

Many parents are aware of the importance of baby (primary) teeth and of the important functions that baby teeth have for young children.

Baby teeth help young children learn to speak properly, to chew healthy and nutritious foods and to save space for adult teeth as they come in. And let’s not forget the sense of well being and self-esteem that a healthy and happy smile gives a young and growing child.

Because we want to baby those baby teeth, oral care or dental care starts right from birth before any teeth actually come in. New parents like Uyen can use the baby washcloth every day, moistened with water to gently wipe baby’s gums after each feeding, or at least during each bath time.

Because the germs that cause cavities are contagious, when mom keeps her own teeth healthy with daily brushing and flossing and having regular check-ups and cleanings, she will have less of those cavity causing bacteria to pass on to her little girl.

The daily wiping of baby girl An’s gums before any teeth even come in will help to keep her mouth clean as that first little tooth appears in the next 5 or 6 months. When teething does begin and baby girl An is drooling and wants to chew on everything in sight, that washcloth can be wet and placed in freezer for awhile before given to baby to chew on for teething comfort.

The Canadian Dental Association recommends that young children have their first dental check-up by one year of age. Until then, with all of the exciting changes and baby smiles growing, new parents like Uyen play a simple but important role in the healthy future smiles of their children.