Even though newborns and infants do not have teeth, care of the
mouth and gums is important. Use a damp washcloth to wipe your
infant's gums after each meal and do not put your infant or young
child to bed with a bottle of milk, juice, or sugar water. As the
child grows, establishing proper dental hygiene will promote
healthy teeth and gums which are essential to overall good health.
Poor dental development, dental disease, and dental trauma can
result in poor nutrition, painful and dangerous infections,
problems with speech development, and problems with self image.
Review Date: 02/22/2010
Reviewed By: Jack D. Rosenberg, DDS, Advanced Dental Care, Palm Beach Gardens,
FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by
David Zieve, M.D., MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
