When to start brushing baby teeth
Baby teeth tend to come through at around four to six months – as soon as the first one appears, it needs gentle brushing because plaque is a problem no matter what the age.
You might want to also softly clean your baby’s gums with a clean wet cloth after feedings. This gets them used to dental hygiene from the earliest age and creates the ideal clean environment for their new teeth to appear.
You need to supervise children’s brushing until they are 7 years old.
Also advise them to spit but not to rinse after brushing. This will help keep fluoride around there teeth during the day.
How to brush baby teeth
Here are the steps that have been proven to work best:
- Buy an ultra soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste that’s designed for young children i.e. fluoride is necessary as it helps prevent tooth decay, but the typical brands used by adults are too strong for your little one.
- The easiest position is to sit your baby upright and facing away from as this allows more control when it comes to keeping their head still.
- Brush gently in small circular motions for about two minutes, with your main focus on where the gum meets the tooth. This should be done twice a day – in the morning and after their last feed before you put them to bed at night.
- When your child starts teething, be ultra gentle as their gums will be very sore.
A great tip is to brush your teeth in front of your baby as often as possible. Since children learn by copying, this will teach them to perceive brushing as a normal part of daily routine.
Teething
Teething generally starts occurring in babies at around six months. The common signs of teething include swollen gums, increased chewing and dribbling, irritability and flushed cheeks.
Here are the best ways to help your little one through this trying time:
- Do your best to keep them distracted with fun activities.
- Be vigilant about wiping away excessive drooling or your baby may develop skin irritations.
- Chilled teething rings are a great help as they sooth irritated gums.
- If your baby is in pain, good solutions are to gently apply teething gel directly to their gums.
Further information can be found at https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-care-for-mother-and-baby
Dummies
Dummies were once a staple for babies and might seem like a good idea to help with teething problems, but we recommend not making dummies a habit. The reason for this is that dummies place pressure on your baby’s mouth and can cause their teeth to move out of alignment.
Further information can be found at nhs.uk.
When to bring your baby to the dentist
The first time to book your little one in for a baby dental check-up is usually just before 12 months. This allows them to become familiar with the sounds and smells of a dental surgery.
If you wish to make an appointment you can call us on 01438 351548, or email us at reception@hydeandental.com.