How to Brush Baby Teeth

Brushing your baby's teeth is important to keep their teeth healthy. It will also develop into a routine for when they are older and can brush their own teeth. Read on to learn how to brush baby teeth.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soft bristled brush or gauze wrapped fingertip
• Baby toothpaste
• Cup of water

1. In the beginning, before there are any molars, you can wrap your finger tip in gauze and use that as a toothbrush. You will want to ask your dentist if you should use toothpaste with any fluoride in it. Early on, toothpaste really isn't even needed when brushing your baby's teeth. However, if the baby does swallow any toothpaste with fluoride in it, have them take a drink of water to dilute it.

2. After you have put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the brush, gently go back and forth on the baby's teeth. You can make this part into a game. Sing silly songs about brushing teeth, or count each tooth as you clean it. You can also go over their gums and tongue to get rid of any bacteria that is lingering there.

3. If you aren't using baby toothpaste, have them spit out any foam that has formed from brushing teeth. Not all babies will be old enough to do this yet, which is why you should let them have a drink of water after to dilute any toothpaste that was swallowed.

4. Once your baby has molars, you should stop brushing with gauze and use a baby toothbrush. You can let them hold it while you're brushing your teeth and see if they will start to imitate you.

5. In the beginning you will only need to brush your baby's teeth once a day. When your baby gets used to having their teeth brushed, you can start brushing twice to three times a day. This will be a great start at your baby's dental hygiene.

Tips & Warnings

• Some babies are drowsy after their last bottle at night, and brushing their teeth may wake them up, resulting in it being harder for them to fall asleep. Try brushing their teeth in the morning after breakfast instead.
• Have your baby watch you brush your teeth and they will soon want to imitate you.
• A baby's first toothbrush should be short with two rows of soft bristles on a short head.
• Babies and children that swallow too much fluoride can develop fluorisis, which damages their teeth.

[nudefood]

on 5/19/2009 Two tips for step 1:1) you can purchase specially formulated baby toothpaste so you do not need to be concerned with the fluoride2) there is a product called Spiffies that is like gauze but with the added benefits of cavity fighting ingredient and three flavors. Learn more at raising-roots.com