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Babies: 6 months - 1 year

Baby dental health
Big smiles

Infant nutrition and oral health (0-12 months)

  • Breast milk & formula:
    • Best for babies, especially in the first 6 months.
    • Provides all necessary vitamins and minerals.
    • No need for baby fruit juices or herbal drinks—can cause tooth decay.
  • Hydration:
    • Cooled boiled water is the safest extra fluid during hot months.
    • Avoid sugary drinks to prevent developing a "sweet tooth."
  • Feeding bottles:
    • Never put juice or sweetened liquids in feeding bottles to prevent tooth decay.

Dummies and thumb-sucking

  • Dummy use:
    • Can help babies settle; choose what's best for your baby.
    • Orthodontic dummies reduce the risk of teeth growing in the wrong position.
    • Avoid dipping dummies in sweet substances—leads to tooth decay.
  • Thumb-sucking:
    • More impact on teeth than dummies; can push teeth forward.
    • Stop early to avoid needing braces later.
    • Try to gently remove from the mouth, especially during sleep.
  • Age limit:
    • Ideally stop dummy use and thumb-sucking by 12 months to prevent bite issues and speech problems.

Weaning

  • Starting solids:
    • Begin after 6 months; continue breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
    • Avoid processed baby foods—high in sugar.
  • Homemade foods:
    • Pureed veggies like carrots, broccoli, and potatoes are good options.
    • Don’t add sugar or salt to baby’s food.
  • Finger foods:
    • Introduce a variety of tastes and textures.
    • Healthy snacks: sliced raw veggies, bread sticks, cheese, fresh fruits.
    • Avoid dried fruit as a snack—high in natural sugars.