When should I start brushing my babys teeth?
“The sooner, the better!” The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states that parents should begin dental cleaning at birth, by cleaning their child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush and water. Unless it is advised by your child’s pediatric dentist, fluoridated toothpaste is not recommended until 2-3 years of age.
Start cleaning your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as the first tooth appears. Until your child is 1 year old, you can use a wet washcloth or gauze to clean your baby’s teeth and gums. At about a 1 year to 18 months of age, you should start using a soft baby toothbrush and a small dab of toothpaste that does not have flouride in it. (This type of toothpaste is safe for your baby to swallow.
Start brushing your baby’s teeth twice a day when the first tooth appears. The most important time to brush is just before bedtime. Use a soft baby toothbrush. Put a dab of toothpaste on the brush. The dab should be the size of a rice grain. Ask your doctor or dentist what kind of toothpaste you should use for your baby. He or she may suggest that you use toothpaste with fluoride (say: floor-ide) in it. Fluoride helps stop cavities. Some toothpastes made for babies do not have fluoride. If you use this kind, be sure to switch to toothpaste with fluoride in it when your child reaches age two. Your child will need help with tooth brushing until about age eight. Does my child need extra fluoride? Some cities put fluoride in the drinking water. If you do not have fluoride in your drinking water, your child may need to use liquid fluoride or chewable fluoride tablets starting at six months of age. You can call your water company and find out how much fluoride is in the water. If you have we
Start cleaning your baby’s teeth at least once a day as soon as you can see a tooth emerging. By starting early, your baby will become used to having his teeth cleaned and hopefully, you will avoid future problems with brushing. Your baby’s first tooth will most likely be a bottom front one, emerging at around six months to one year, with the one next to it following within two or three weeks. It’s worth bearing in mind that, during this period of teething, your baby’s gums will feel tender, so when brushing make sure you’re not too vigorous. Your baby will eventually have around 20 milk teeth, all of which should be through by the time he is three years old. It’s a good idea to make teeth cleaning part of the morning and bedtime routine so that you don’t forget to do it.
