You do not need to begin brushing with a toothbrush or toothpaste until your infant’s teeth begin to erupt, but you should clean your baby’s gums daily.
Baby teeth typically begin to erupt between the ages of six and nine months. These teeth are critical because they aid your child in eating and speaking, as well as guiding the adult teeth into their proper spaces.
Before the First Tooth
Proper dental care begins before your child's first tooth appears. Each day, you should run a clean, damp washcloth over the gums to wipe away harmful bacteria.
Making gum cleaning a part of your daily routine from the start will help ensure that you and your baby are both accustomed to routine mouth cleanings by the time your baby's first tooth comes in. Additionally, because each baby teethes differently, it can be difficult for parents to determine when their child's first tooth begins to break through.
When the First Tooth Appears
As soon as the first tooth appears, you should start brushing with an infant toothbrush and fluoride-free toothpaste.
Baby teeth must be cleaned regularly, as infants, like adults, can develop cavities. Once your child has a tooth, plaque can begin to accumulate on the tooth's surface, causing decay.
Children should brush at least twice a day – once in the morning and once before bed. Flossing can begin once your child has two teeth side-by-side.
Tips for Oral Care of Baby Teeth
Even babies can develop tooth decay if good habits aren't practiced. By following these oral health tips, you can help your child's baby teeth remain healthy:
- Avoid putting a baby to sleep with a bottle. It might be convenient but can harm the baby's teeth. When sugars from juice or milk sit on a baby's teeth for hours, they can eat away at the enamel, creating a condition known as bottle mouth.
- Teach your children good dental care habits early. When you show them how to take care of their baby teeth you are starting positive habits that will last a lifetime.
- Visit a dentist who provides children's services by the age of one year, or around the time when the first teeth appear. This will help preserve the baby teeth until they are ready to fall out and be replaced by the adult teeth.