When Should I Start Brushing My Baby’s Teeth?
Since babies are born with all 20 baby teeth already in their jaws, it’s important to practice good oral health habits from the very start. A healthy mouth is the foundation for healthy teeth. Care for your infant’s gums by gently wiping his mouth with a clean wet cloth. Because bacteria are easily passed orally, don’t let anyone come into mouth to mouth contact with your infant. When baby starts teething, give her a teething toy that also incorporates a training toothbrush.
Once your baby has several teeth and the ability to sit up, you can brush with a wet soft-bristled brush. Introduce training fluoride-free training toothpaste once your young toddler can follow directions enough to let you brush and practice spitting. As your child develops the skills to hold a toothbrush and spit used toothpaste into the sink, allow him to brush on his own, but follow up and talk about what spots need more practice.
Flossing will take some time and patience, but the rewards will be well worth it when dental visits go well. If you start talking about the tooth fairy while your kids are learning to care for their teeth, be sure to remind them that the tooth fairy needs to collect shiny healthy teeth in order to give the best rewards!
When Should My Child See a Dentist?
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), babies should visit the dentist by their first birthday, or when the first tooth erupts. This first visit gives your child’s dentist a chance to help her get comfortable with dentistry, and your dentist will also take time to talk to you about your child’s oral health and how you can commit to best practices.
Be sure to keep talk about dental visits positive. Sometimes parents who are frustrated by the process of keeping their kids’ teeth properly brushed will talk about scraping, cavities, and drills to scare their kids into better brushing. This kind of talk can make kids fear the dentist, which leads to difficult visits. Instead, talk about how well-brushed teeth make dental visits easy breezy. Remind your kids that they get fun prizes for a great check-up. Also feel free to tell your kids that their dentist sends regular reports to the tooth fairy. The tooth fairy gives the best rewards for sparkling clean teeth, so that should be good motivation to stay on top of good oral health.
Teaching Great Teeth Habits
By starting great oral healthcare during your child’s infancy, you’ll set the stage for great long-term habits. Remember to never let your baby go to sleep with a bottle in his or her crib, as the liquids can pool in the mouth and cause problems. Avoid introducing sugar to your children for as long as possible, and if it becomes inevitable, keep sugary treats to a minimum. Be honest with your kids with age appropriate language about how sugar can harm their teeth.
Help your kids brush twice a day, and never allow any snacks or drinks after bedtime brushing. Let your kids watch you brush and floss your own teeth to teach by example. If your child is old enough to sit still for 30 minutes, bring him or her along on your dental checkup to show that everyone does it.
Visit our shop to find great books that help your kids become comfortable with losing teeth and excited about the tooth fairy’s first visit. In our post about where all those teeth go, we shared some ideas about why the tooth fairy collects teeth, and they all require healthy clean teeth. Feel free to use one of those ideas to help encourage your kids to keep their teeth strong and healthy. We are always here for you, so make sure you follow us on Facebook and Instagram so we can help you stay motivated on the path to great pediatric oral health.
FlutterPop is invested in creating healthy teeth habits as early as possible. For more information, tips, and ideas, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.