Babies & Toddlers: How to Introduce Tooth Brushing
Whether your baby still has a gummy smile or first teeth are starting to sprout, dental care can begin early on in your child’s life. Just like you, your little one’s teeth need the same amount of care and attention as your own. So as soon as a tooth appears, you can start gently brushing twice a day, for at least two minutes.
You might be thinking that’s all well and good, but how do I introduce tooth brushing to my babe or tot? Let’s find out…
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Gums and brushing
The idea of brushing your baby’s gums may seem really counterintuitive as there are no teeth visible yet! However, it’s never too early to start brushing your little one’s mouth. The reason? Bacteria.
Sugars in breast or formula milk naturally sit on your baby’s gums as they swill around their mouth and produce bacteria. While we all have certain types of bacteria present in our mouths, leaving them to build up can cause significant dental problems down the road, such as tooth decay to gum disease.
During your little one’s early days, it’s crucial not to let your babe fall asleep with a bottle of milk as fluids left to sit in their mouth for longer and increase the levels of bacteria in their mouth overnight.
So, what can you do to prevent bacteria buildup? Either use a clean, damp cloth, a finger brush or a baby dental wipe to gently wipe away any leftover food debris and bacteria at least twice a day.
My baby’s first tooth has arrived!
Now that your baby’s first tooth has come through, you can start using a soft-bristled, round-headed baby toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste. At this stage, it’s more about getting your little one used to brushing their teeth as part of their daily routine than perfecting your technique.
One of the best ways to introduce your babe to brushing is to let them see how you brush your own. That way, they can mirror your movements, see how long you do it for and if Mummy, Daddy, or other family members do it, they’ll know that they should too!
At first, your baby or tot might not like the sensation. So pop them on your lap, hold them close enough for comfort and gently use small brushing strokes on each tooth while praising them each step of the way. For older children, you may wish to stand behind them with their head slightly tilted so that you can reach each tooth.
Once there are teeth touching each other, this trustworthy dentist in Leominster recommends flossing your baby's teeth gently.
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Toothpaste, brushes and technique
Small children’s mouths are incredibly sensitive to intense flavours. So opting for a palette friendly toothpaste option such as apple, strawberry, vanilla, or mild mint will ensure your little one doesn’t get too overwhelmed!
When it comes to choosing the right toothpaste for your child, make sure you check the label to ensure they have the correct amount of fluoride for their age group:
Babies, tots to 3 years: use a tiny smear or a rice grain amount of fluoride toothpaste with no less than 1,000ppm fluoride
Children 3 - 6 years: use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride
Brush each tooth using small circles, covering all the surfaces
Spit, don’t rinse: as the enamel-strengthening fluoride will get to work throughout the night as your babe sleeps
Make sure you keep an eye on your child whatever stage of toothbrushing they are at
You’ll find that gradually brushing your child’s teeth more thoroughly over time will quickly get them used to all the sensations involved. What’s more, brushing at least twice a day - morning and just before bed will quickly normalise brushing as part of their routine.
Don’t neglect the dentist
Dentist’s offer a treasure trove of advice and helpful tips that will ensure your baby’s oral hygiene journey gets off to the best start. From advice on diet to brushing, recommended toothpastes and more, your dentist has years of experience that is worth listening to!
NHS England recommends booking your child’s first dentist trip before their first birthday or just after their first tooth appears. That way, your baby can get used to the experience early on and feel more familiar with your family dentist. Any problems can be spotted and dealt with before they cause further problems.
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Extra encouragement
Positive, engaging experiences are a sure-fire way to get your kiddo on board with brushing their teeth. The more fun you can make it, the better! You may want to consider:
Brushing at bathtime: bubbles, warmth and sensory time before bed are, for most, the perfect pre-sleep ritual. Adding toothbrushing into this part of your baby’s routine will ensure they get their teeth brushed before bed
Make up a story: kids of all ages love a story, so why not use their toothbrush as one of the characters
Sing a song: 2 minutes x twice a day is your ultimate goal with toothbrushing. So play your tot’s favourite tune, or adapt one of their favourite nursery rhymes into a brush friendly tune
Get some of their favourite characters involved: everyone from Hey Duggee to Peppa Pig all has an array of storybooks and short videos to support and encourage your child’s development. Check out Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge!
Lead by example: whether you let your child brush your teeth, let them watch you in the mirror, or you brush your teeth side by side, they will feel like it is a shared activity the more you get involved!
Sticker/reward chart: create or buy a colourful reward chart so that your tot can track their progress and get a sticker for each of their achievements! You can even throw in a prize at the end of each week if they get enough stickers
It’s never too early to introduce your baby to tooth brushing. As a critical life skill, the more they practice, the healthier their teeth will be as a result!
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.