As soon as your baby’s first tooth is visible in their mouth, start brushing! The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry recommends brushing your child’s teeth for two minutes. We understand that brushing your child’s teeth is a process that takes time to build up to. When brushing your baby’s teeth, the most important goal is to make sure the toothbrush contacts all surfaces of all teeth. You also want to be sure that your child is safely holding the toothbrush while doing this. Often, the easiest way to do this is to lay your baby down in your lap while brushing. This allows you to stabilize his or her head and to try to brush the teeth in the same order each time. This allows your baby to become used to having his or her teeth brushed. If your baby tries to take the toothbrush out of your hand, consider brushing after bath time when your baby is snuggled up in their cozy towel and is not able to grab the brush from your hand. It is normal for your baby to be vocal about toothbrushing; know that you are helping to keep their smile healthy and that brushing for your baby will prevent the need for other dental treatments which would likely be challenging for your child to tolerate.
Encourage your child to brush their own teeth!
Nighttime is the most important time to brush your baby’s teeth. For a baby with an average risk for cavities, brushing with only water on the toothbrush is effective. As more teeth erupt your pediatric dentist will recommend introducing fluoride toothpaste around age two. This could also happen earlier if any teeth are at a higher risk for cavities. If your baby is interested in brushing independently, encourage them to do this supervised and sitting down. Always make sure an adult follows up to ensure each tooth is properly brushed. Something to keep in mind this that a child’s manual dexterity is not proficient enough to properly brush their teeth on their own until they can independently tie their shoes and cut up food with a knife.
Questions?
If you have any questions about how to best brush your baby’s teeth contact our office. At Rise & Shine Pediatric Dentistry it is important that parents feel confident in providing great dental care at home for their children. Ready to schedule your appointment? Learn more about what to expect on your first visit here!