10 Aug Brushing Baby’s Teeth
Did you know you should start routine oral care on a baby? Even if the baby doesn’t have teeth? It’s true. Milk and formula both contain sugars which can cause plaque to develop on a baby’s gum line. When the teeth do eventually sprout up through the gums that plaque can instantly begin causing dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. But to brush a child’s gums don’t use a toothbrush or even, at first, a toothpaste. Simply wet a soft rag—something that’s very smooth and won’t cause any abrasions on the gums—and rub the rag over the baby’s gum line. Do this twice each day—usually after a baby’s fed.
Routine Oral Care After a Baby’s Teeth have sprouted
When a baby’s teeth come up through the gum line it’s time to start brushing those teeth with a toothbrush. You can find soft-bristled baby toothbrushes in the aisles at the grocery—if you are uncertain which brush will work the best choose one that’s made for a baby with soft bristles, a short brushing head, and a large handle. At first, when the baby has just one or two teeth in his or her mouth, just wet the toothbrush like you wet the rag before it, and massage the teeth with the wet brush. When the teeth really erupt into the mouth, showing all surfaces, you can use a baby’s toothpaste—at first something without fluoride—and apply just a grain-of-rice sized amount to the bristles—it doesn’t take much! Brush all the surfaces of the teeth, getting the fronts and the backs. Continue to perform this routine oral care twice daily until the child is three. At three, the amount of toothpaste can be graduated to a pea-sized amount. Your child will continue to need you to help them brush until they can do the activity reliably, and they are spitting-out the toothpaste in the sink, and are able to brush all sides of their teeth effectively—usually these independent skills begin to develop around the age of six.
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