The first months after your child comes into the world mark a special moment you’ll always cherish, and witnessing those early developmental stages become one of the most rewarding. In the first month alone, their rooting reflex (the feeding instinct to grab a bottle or breast) and the sucking reflex are kicking in.
As your infant grows and develops, helping them stay healthy is essential. Once their teeth begin to erupt, you may find yourself wondering: When should you start brushing your baby’s teeth?
To help you determine the right time to start this vital part of your child’s oral health journey, pediatric dentistry specialists Dr. Roge Jacob, Dr. Magdalena Azzarelli, and our expert team at Hillsdale Dental Care in San Jose, California, are here to keep you on the right track.
For babies, dental care starts with gum cleaning before their teeth erupt. You can do this by wiping their gummy smile with a clean, damp cloth to remove bacteria and reduce the risk of damage to baby teeth as they come in. This helps you build the habit of cleaning their mouths routinely.
Once your baby’s teeth start to appear, brush them twice daily: Once in the morning, and once again before bedtime. Use just a tiny amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste and a small, soft-bristled toothbrush made for infants.
Maintaining these habits is important as their teeth continue to grow. Within the first 12-18 months, the twice-daily routine should be set, and starting their pediatric dental visits will help you monitor their oral health with confidence.
Children have 20 baby teeth, which start erupting at about six months of age and are fully grown in by the age of three. These primary teeth last until about age six or seven, and start falling out as their permanent (adult) teeth begin erupting.
How you encourage your children to care for their baby teeth can help build their daily oral hygiene routine for the rest of their lives — and help determine how healthy their teeth and gums are as they grow through adolescence and into early adulthood.
The common love of sweets and other enamel-damaging foods often starts in childhood, and knowing how to reduce the chance of cavities and other dental problems needs to take center stage in early childhood, too.
Like many other essential or directed activities, kids may be bored or resistant to oral care, but it’s important to help them want to do it and build it into their lifestyle. Many simple techniques can help them have more fun while brushing, including:
Brushing your child’s teeth from infancy helps to build habits that will last a lifetime. Looking for more tips and tricks to help protect your child’s teeth along the way? We’re here to help. Call 408-404-8385 to schedule an appointment with our team at Hillsdale Dental Care today.
