Many parents wonder when the right time is to start brushing their baby’s teeth. The short answer is as soon as they get them. As soon as teeth erupt from the gums, they’re vulnerable to plaque.
However, it may be a little difficult to brush tiny baby’s teeth, and since some children get their first teeth at as young as three months, you may be wondering what you can do.
A good idea is to start by wiping emerging teeth with a piece of clean gauze or a damp cloth when your baby is very young, and graduate to a toothbrush later on, adding toothpaste to help protect the primary teeth.
Avoiding sticky, sugary foods when your child starts to eat solids will help, but daily tooth cleaning, from the moment the first teeth arrive, will help to ensure that your baby avoids cavities and visits to the dentist.
Don’t assume that just because they’re baby teeth, they don’t matter – tooth decay can lead to painful abscesses, or your child may lose teeth, causing other teeth to shift, and problems when the secondary teeth start to come in.
However, it may be a little difficult to brush tiny baby’s teeth, and since some children get their first teeth at as young as three months, you may be wondering what you can do.
A good idea is to start by wiping emerging teeth with a piece of clean gauze or a damp cloth when your baby is very young, and graduate to a toothbrush later on, adding toothpaste to help protect the primary teeth.
Avoiding sticky, sugary foods when your child starts to eat solids will help, but daily tooth cleaning, from the moment the first teeth arrive, will help to ensure that your baby avoids cavities and visits to the dentist.
Don’t assume that just because they’re baby teeth, they don’t matter – tooth decay can lead to painful abscesses, or your child may lose teeth, causing other teeth to shift, and problems when the secondary teeth start to come in.
