When to Start Brushing Your Baby's Teeth

Baby teeth are necessary for a child's healthy oral development as well as overall health. Brushing them is crucial for this reason. Our Calgary dentists explain in this video.

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.

When children are between the ages of six and nine months, their baby teeth begin to erupt. These teeth are crucial because they assist your child in eating and speaking, as well as guiding the adult teeth into their proper positions.

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.

Cleaning your baby's gums as part of your daily routine from the beginning will help ensure that you and your baby are both used to regular mouth cleanings by the time his or her first tooth emerges. Furthermore, because every baby teethes in its unique way, it can be difficult for a parent to tell when their child's first tooth is breaking 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.

Because infants, like adults, can get cavities, their teeth must be cleaned regularly. Plaque can begin to build upon the surface of your child's tooth once he or she has a tooth, 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.

To book an appointment for your child to see the dentist, contact Green Plaza Dental.