How to Keep Your Baby's Teeth Healthy

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By mvparcels
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Your baby has gotten their first set of teeth and you want to keep them as pearly white as possible. Keep your baby's teeth healthy with these steps, and promote proper mouth care later on in life.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Age appropriate toothbrush for your baby
Age appropriate toothpaste for your baby
Time
Patience

Step 1

Get a toothbrush appropriate for your child. Children’s toothbrushes come in stages. The earliest stage is a finger brush. A finger brush is suitable for a baby’s first few teeth.

Finger brushes are made from nylon and have soft nylon bristles that are gentle on baby’s gums. If you get a package set, the toothbrush will come with age appropriate toothpaste already.
Step 2

Put the finger brush on the finger you are most comfortable with and just run is lightly over your baby’s gums and teeth. Brush in an up to down motion, front and back to get as much of the teeth clean. Never brush from side to side this can tear at your baby’s sensitive gums.

Just be careful, your baby might bite you. Don’t yell or show too much of a reaction, it can either scare them or cause them to do it again because they got a reaction out of you. Just gently take your finger out of their mouth even though it is probably throbbing and tell your baby no. Try again in a little bit if your finger still hurts.
Step 3

You don’t have to brush your baby’s teeth after every feeding. Brushing once a day, preferably before bed should suffice. That way whatever your baby ate during the day does not stay on their teeth while sleeping.
Step 4

Once your baby has more teeth and is ready to graduate to a soft bristle brush, by all means move on to the next stage. It is up to you when you think your child is ready. It can be when they have six or more teeth or they turn away more from the finger brush and reach for it instead trying to brush their teeth themselves.
Step 5

When your child shows that they want to brush their own teeth, let them. It will get them used to the idea that they need to clean their teeth. The earlier they learn this you’ll have less of a fight in the future. Make sure you get a few swipes in though. As your child gets older, they will not want you to help them, especially in their early toddler years. That is okay too. As long as they are sucking on the toothpaste and getting something clean, it is enough for now.
Step 6

Once your child reaches the age of two, look around for a pediatric dentist and introduce them to the dentist’s office. This will promote a good relationship in the future for your child and their dentist. Your dentist can also give you more advice on keeping your child’s teeth healthy.