The baby’s teeth begin to appear, more or less, starting at 6 months, however, it is important to start caring for the baby’s mouth shortly after birth, to avoid bottle cavities, which is most common when the baby drinks milk at night and then falls asleep without washing their mouth, or when parents soften the baby’s nipple to fall asleep.
Thus, until the baby’s first teeth are born, the baby’s gums, cheeks, and tongue should be cleaned with a damp cloth or gauze, at least twice a day, but especially before the baby falls asleep.You can also use a suitable finger, but it is recommended only after 3 months.
- After the birth of the baby’s first teeth and until the year of age.
- It is advisable to brush your teeth with an age-appropriate toothbrush.
- Which should be soft.
- Small head and large fist.
Starting at 1 year, you should brush your baby’s teeth with their own baby-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste, which contain less fluoride, as other toothpastes contain more fluoride that can leave white spots on your teeth.Your baby’s risk of swallowing this fluoride. Learn how to choose the best toothpaste.
To brush your baby’s teeth, put the amount of toothpaste, which corresponds to your baby’s fingernail, into the brush and brush all the teeth, front and back, careful not to hurt.
When the baby is able to hold the brush on its own and brush their teeth, parents should let them brush, to get used to it, however, they should brush again at the end to make sure they are clean.
Your baby’s toothbrush should be changed every 3 to 4 months or when the hairs are worn out, as they can damage your gums.
It is also very important to clean the baby’s tongue and gums, approximately twice a day, from birth, as this is where most bacteria accumulate in food.
From birth to the appearance of the first tooth, cleaning the tongue and gums should be done with a gauze soaked in water, with gentle movements, preferably in movements from the inside to the outside of the mouth.
When the first tooth appears, between 4 and 6 months, you can use a gauze soaked in water or your own finger, with some age-appropriate toothpaste, clean the gums and tongue, from the inside out.
The baby’s teeth should be brushed, preferably after meals, however, as it is not always possible to do so after each meal, it is recommended to brush them at least twice a day, the last one before going to sleep.
In addition, the child should visit the dentist at least once a year to check that the teeth are growing correctly and that they are not developing cavities. Know when to take your baby to the dentist.
To prevent cavities and other diseases, also learn how to sterilize bottles and lollipops.