How to Keep Your Baby’s Teeth Clean

Has your little one started sprouting a few teeth? If they have, you’ll know all about it, likely through sleepless nights and an unsettled baby.

But now that they have appeared, how do you take care of them? When do you start brushing them? Yes, these teeth will eventually fall out, but neglecting them can cause problems further down the line when their adult teeth come in.

If you want to know more about why it’s important to clean baby teeth, you’re in the right place, so keep reading!

When Should I Start Brushing My Baby’s Teeth?

Some people might say there’s no point in brushing baby teeth, or that you should wait until your child has a full mouth of teeth. In fact, it’s beneficial to care for your child’s oral health before you’ve seen that first tooth.

While an infant isn’t exactly the most cooperative, it’s worth attempting to keep their gums clean. This will help prevent bacteria buildup.

Use a finger brush or a wet, sterile cloth to gently wipe the gum line.

What About When Teeth Start to Appear?

If you’ve been using a cloth or finger brush, you could continue to use these once the first teeth appear, but it’s probably a good time to make the transition to a baby toothbrush.

Like with adults, it’s best to brush your baby’s teeth twice a day, and especially at night before bed. While we sleep, there is a lot going on in our mouths—starting the night off with a mouth free of milk is good for your baby’s oral health.

How to Clean Baby Teeth

Before you go buying toothpaste and a toothbrush, it’s important to know exactly what to get.

Toothbrush

The best kind of toothbrush for babies is a soft-bristled toothbrush. These will be gentle on your little one’s teeth and gums. Also, rather than a regular-shaped toothbrush, a circular brush is better suited to their tiny mouth.

Toothpaste

Let’s talk fluoride. When you first start brushing your baby’s teeth, you don’t want the toothpaste to contain too much fluoride since they’re more likely to swallow it. Start off with a very small amount of toothpaste, around the size of a grain of rice.

When you’re brushing your baby’s teeth, try to have them angled down the way, over the sink if possible. This will encourage the saliva/toothpaste to drip into the sink rather than being swallowed, at least until your child is old enough to learn to spit.

If you feel a little overwhelmed with all this, you might be thinking, “I want to speak to a pediatric dentist in my area!”. Give them a call and they’ll be happy to help.

Make It Fun

Kids are fussy, there’s no getting around it. And sometimes they will point blank refuse to let you brush their teeth.

Try singing a song, like “brush, brush, brush your teeth” to the tune of “Row, row, row your boat” to make it a fun experience for them. Or get creative and make up your own tooth-brushing song!

Your Little One Is Blessed!

If you’re reading this article, then you’re already showing that you’re a great parent who wants to give their kids the best possible start to life.

Now that you know how to clean baby teeth, it’s on the next thing! If you enjoyed this article on how to keep baby teeth clean, and want to read more like it, check out the Health section of the blog.