Taking good care of your baby’s teeth will help them establish a good oral hygiene routine, which will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives. Here is some useful advice for looking after your baby’s teeth:

Dentist

On average a baby’s first tooth will appear at around 6 months old and, although it sounds early, it is recommended that you register your baby with a dental practice as soon as their first tooth emerges. Dublin18 Dental Care welcomes families from Monkstown and adjacent areas looking to start their good oral health journey.

Brushing

Use a damp cloth to clean your baby’s gums when their teeth are not yet come through. Then, brushing can begin as soon as your baby’s very first tooth emerges, which will prevent bacteria from building-up on your baby’s teeth and gums, as well as getting them used to the brushing routine. You should use a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles and you should replace the toothbrush every three months. Brush the front, back and biting surface of their teeth gently, twice a day. It is up to you to brush your baby’s teeth until they are old enough to do it for themselves, or without your assistance. Children should be supervised with tooth brushing until the age of seven.

Toothpaste

Using toothpaste will help strengthen your baby’s teeth. Make sure you check the fluoride content first. Children under three should use a low-fluoride toothpaste and you should look for a concentration of ‘1000ppm’ (parts per million) of fluoride. When your baby is old enough, encourage them to spit the toothpaste out once finished brushing. A small smear of toothpaste is enough for children under three.

To make sure your baby’s first smile is a healthy one, register them and the whole family at Dublin18 Dental Care.