
Maintaining infant oral hygiene is very important because it maintains oral health, clears milk and food residues and avoids buildup of bacteria. It helps the baby have healthy gums and teeth. It is recommended to begin cleaning the baby’s mouth as a newborn, even before the teeth appear. Teeth brushing may begin after the teeth start appearing. Read more: When Should I Start Cleaning My Baby’s Mouth? Article
Multimedia: Slideshows, Images & Quizzes
-
Oral Health: What Bad Breath Says About Your Health
Bad breath causes include snoring, gum disease, acid reflux, respiratory infections, tonsil stones, diabetes, liver failure,...
-
Oral Health: 15 Conditions That Make Your Teeth Hurt
Got aching teeth? Your pain may be coming from somewhere other than your choppers.
-
Top Tips for Beautiful Teeth and Gums
Explore tips for beautiful teeth and gums. Brighten your smile and keep healthy gums with these easy and simple tools.
-
Dental (Oral) Health Quiz: Test Your Dental Hygiene IQ
Take the Dental Health Quiz to test your IQ of oral hygiene, cavities, and common tongue and gum diseases. This quiz covers...
-
Picture of Teeth
The teeth are the hardest substances in the human body. See a picture of the Teeth and learn more about the health topic.

SLIDESHOW
Parenting Guide: Healthy Eating for Kids See SlideshowRelated Disease Conditions
-
Teething
Teething in babies typically starts between 4 and 10 months of age. Symptoms and signs of cutting teeth include rash, drooling, decreased sleeping, fussiness, bringing the hands to the mouth, and rubbing the cheek or ear. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be used to treat teething pain. Do not give aspirin to babies or children due to a condition called Reye's syndrome, which can be deadly.
-
Can Babies Grow Out of Tongue-Tie?
If tongue-tie is left alone, it will often resolve itself as the baby's mouth grows. However, in some cases, surgery for tongue-tie may be required.
-
Is It Bad to Feed Baby Food at 4 Months?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until your child is at least 6 months old to introduce solid foods into their diet. Some doctors and organizations still recommend starting your child on solids between 4-6 months of age.
-
Protect Your Teeth: 19 Bad Dental Habits to Avoid
Bad dental habits can wreck your teeth. Teeth grinding, chewing on ice, playing sports without a mouth guard, and eating and drinking sugary foods and drinks are just a few bad habits that are bad for teeth. Giving nighttime baby bottles, opening things with your teeth, and chewing on pencils can also damage teeth and tissues in the mouth. Drinking red wine and white wine can erode enamel and stain teeth. Smoking, tobacco use, drinking coffee can all lead to tooth stains. Binge eating disorder leads to the consumption of large amounts of sugary food, which can lead to tooth decay. Purging exposes teeth to acids that can wear down enamel.
-
How Do I Know If My Baby is Developing Normally?
The development of your child begins right after birth. What are the signs that your child is developing normally? Learn how to spot when something is wrong.
-
Oral Health Problems in Children
Oral health problems in children include thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking, tooth decay, and early tooth loss. Get tips on how to prevent these problems in your child.
-
How Common Is Tongue-Tie in Babies?
Tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, occurs in about 4 to 11 percent of newborns and is characterized by an excessively tight lingual frenulum.
-
What Are the Steps to Bathe a Newborn?
Giving your newborn baby a bath can feel a bit intimidating, but if you follow some easy steps to bathing a newborn, those first baths can be not only safe but also calming, memorable, and even fun.
-
What Does a 2-Month-Old Baby Do?
After two months of age, your baby moves past the newborn stage and they experience many changes. A two-month old baby experiences advances in motor skills, eating, sleeping, communication and in their senses.
Treatment & Diagnosis
Prevention & Wellness
From 
Parenting Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Subscribe to MedicineNet's Children's Health & Parenting Newsletter
By clicking "Submit," I agree to the MedicineNet Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. I also agree to receive emails from MedicineNet and I understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet subscriptions at any time.