How and when to start brushing baby’s teeth

The teeth of a baby, no matter how small, also require oral care. How you brush your baby’s teeth goes a long way in shaping how likely they are to get cavities when they grow older. Sugars cause cavities. Since breast milk contains lots of natural sugars, the baby’s mouth must be cleaned properly. The best is to ensure you clean your baby’s teeth twice a day at least. This is if it cannot be done after every feeding.

The key to preventing your child from having dental issues is to do it right at the stage of infancy. Many parents do not understand the importance of healthy baby teeth. Beyond a healthy baby tooth helping to grow strong milk teeth, it is also a great determinant of what happens to your baby’s permanent teeth when they grow old. It is very bad for a baby’s teeth to decay. Having a child’s teeth decay can cause permanent teeth that would grow after that becoming crooked. The child can definitely grow to have trouble smiling, speaking, and even chewing.

The problem of when and how to care for their baby’s teeth is one that parents often face, especially first-time parents. Even those who have had other children find themselves using different methods to make each child accept brushing the teeth. So, if you are ready, strap in and go on this journey to get an insight revelation on how to take care of your baby’s teeth together.

When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?

While it might seem unnecessary to start worrying about the oral hygiene of your baby until they grow their first tooth, the care of their teeth begins far before that. In fact, you should start their oral care when their mouth contains nothing but their gum and tongue.

A finger brush can be used initially, while a small wet cloth can also help to serve the same purpose. Gently wipe the gum line to remove bacteria, and residual milk as this will help prevent damage to the teeth when they finally start to arrive. Beyond that, this will help your baby begin to get used to the idea of brushing their teeth.

They should progress from the finger brush or cloth to a small-sized toothbrush with soft bristles as soon as teeth begin to show. Ensure that you brush your baby’s teeth at least two times a day. It is also very important that they do not miss their bedtime oral care. This is so that they do not go overnight with food or milk in their mouth. Doing this can no doubt cause the growth of bacteria on your baby’s teeth. Because of this, the moment to start brushing your baby’s teeth is the moment you see them growing their very first teeth.

How to brush your baby’s teeth

Brushing your baby’s teeth is a very easy process, but sometimes it can be stressful because babies do not always behave the same way. There are sometimes that they might not allow you to put the toothbrush in their mouth. Sometimes, they might move a lot or possibly sleep before it is time to even brush their teeth.

Some of the common questions that many parents have concerning brushing their baby’s teeth include:

1. When should you start using toothpaste for your baby?

There is no need to use toothpaste or any oral product in your baby’s mouth until they grow their first tooth. Before then, it is sufficient to wipe the gum with a soft cloth, as stated above. The time to switch to a toothbrush is when they finally grow their first tooth. This is when brushing starts properly for your baby. You can stick with ordinary water while brushing their first tooth. But as the other teeth grow out, it is important to start using just a grain-sized amount of toothpaste.

2. What kind of toothbrush should you use?

There are finger brushes that have nubs on them that clean the teeth properly, and they feel good on the baby’s gum. When they are ready for toothbrushes, there are several brands to pick from, and they usually come with labels stating the age range for which they are perfect. Toothbrushes for babies are usually very colorful. They sometimes come with images of their favorite cartoons. This is to help them remain interested in the process of brushing and having broad handles so that they can get a good grip of the toothbrush.

3. How do you brush your baby’s teeth?

It is very comfortable for you and your baby to brush their teeth while the child is lying down. That way, you get to brush the front part properly and the back that can be hard to reach if they are backing you or moving too much. You should ensure that you brush the gum softly to prevent bleeding and eventually gum diseases.

If the baby is squirming a lot, brushing could become the job of two adults- one to hold the baby while the other does the actual brushing.

Conclusion

Whether you realize it or not, as a parent, you help lay a solid foundation for how your children will take care of their teeth when they grow older. The way and manner in which you go about it will shape how seriously they will take their oral hygiene when they get to do it themselves. Although initially, it might seem very tiring to add another item to your baby’s daily care routine. Beyond the stress involved, introducing your child early to proper oral hygiene will have benefits that will last them throughout their lives.