The first few months of your baby’s life can be both stressful and magical. Before you know it, you begin to notice a little tooth poking through their gums. Over the coming months and years, your baby will begin to grow their two rows of baby teeth. Although these teeth will eventually be replaced by adult teeth, their purpose is to create a strong foundation for when those adult teeth do arrive. Therefore, it’s recommended to begin caring for these teeth as soon as the first one shows up.

Caring for your baby’s gums

You can also begin caring for your baby’s gums from the beginning. In this case, instead of a toothbrush and toothpaste, you’ll want to use a soft, moistened washcloth and wipe down your baby’s gums at least twice a day. This is especially important after feedings and before bed. 

Brushing your baby’s teeth

You should start caring for your baby’s teeth (or tooth!) as soon as they arrive. You’ll want to look for a toothbrush with a small head, a soft brush, and a large handle. Once the tooth erupts, you’ll want to use a grain of rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Once your child turns three you’ll be able to graduate up to a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. You want to cover all the teeth, brushing around them thoroughly on the front and back. It’s important to brush their teeth for them until they’re old enough to hold the brush. You’ll still want to supervise them after this point until they can rinse and spit on their own. This usually happens around age six.

Keeping an eye out for issues

It’s important to keep a constant lookout for any signs of decay. This would appear as brown or white spots or even pits on the teeth. If you or your regular pediatrician notice any of these issues it’s important to take your child to your pediatric dentist for further examination. Even if there aren’t any issues, you’ll want to bring your child in to see one of our pediatric dentists by the age of one. We’re able to provide all sorts of advice on topics including baby tooth care, teething, fluoride, thumb sucking, and more! Schedule a visit today and we’ll help to keep your little one’s brand new smile bright.