You can find them in just about any drugstore. On average, babies will get their first tooth around six months of age. The weeks leading up to that first tooth may be full of drooling, chewing and discomfort for your baby. It becomes even more essential than ever. Once their first tooth arrives, brushing takes on a new level of importance. Applying gentle pressure to their inflamed gums can go a long way toward easing the pain and discomfort of teething. The last thing you want is to share bacteria with your child that will harm their teeth and gums.
Bottles in and of themselves are not bad. However, as babies become more mobile, parents tend to allow their child to move around with their bottle and sip on it at their leisure.
As soon as your baby is old enough to hold a cup, begin the transition to a sippy cup. Now is also a great time to start establishing a routine when it comes to drinks and snacks. And, as we mentioned before, resist the temptation to allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle or a cup. Until your baby cuts their first tooth, stick to the gum-washing method described above.
Washing their gums as part of your regular oral hygiene routine is essential until they have more teeth covering the area of their gums. It will also help ease their discomfort as their teeth continue to break through their gums. Some parents might think this is unusual because they are picturing the dentist hovering over their tiny baby with an electric toothbrush. Help your child angle their mouth down so the toothpaste can dribble out into the sink, a cup, or onto a washcloth.
Encourage your child to try spitting the toothpaste out as they are able. Fluoride toothpaste is recommended by the American Dental Association as safe and effective even for young children. It is important, however, to use the recommended amounts.
If this amount of fluoride is consumed it should not have negative effects. Consuming more than this may result in an upset stomach. If this happens, the National Capital Poison Center suggests consuming dairy as this can bind with the fluoride in the stomach. Before then you can stick to water and a washcloth or finger brush.
For children under age 3, the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP suggest only using a small smear of fluoride toothpaste that is approximately the size of a grain of rice. As your child becomes able, encourage them to spit out the toothpaste and avoid swallowing it. For children ages 3 to 6, the AAP suggests a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste making sure to encourage swallowing as little as possible of the toothpaste.
Before you throw out all the toothbrushes in your house in frustration, give these tricks a try:. The age of your little one and the amount of teeth they have! This will prepare them for having something cleaning their mouth and also give you the chance to swipe away the bacteria off their gums, so that their growing teeth have a healthy environment to develop in.
When do you start brushing baby teeth? How do you brush baby teeth? What do you do if your child hates brushing teeth? Here are some tips for how to do so. If your child is teething, consider refrigerating or freezing the damp washcloth for a few minutes.
Many parents feel unsure about when to start brushing baby teeth. Do parents need to begin brushing with a toothbrush and toothpaste that early?
As soon as your child has a tooth, plaque can begin building up on the surface of the tooth and causing decay. What if your toddler runs away at the sight of a toothbrush? Special Needs Pediatric Dentistry. Patient Info. View All Patient Info. Office Tour. What Sets Us Apart. Age 1 First Visit. Quick Tips for Parents. Healthy Teeth Club. Pediatric Dental FAQs. Toothbrush Timer Video. Patient Forms. Practice Policies.
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