How and When to Start Brushing Your Baby’s Teeth

It’s true what they say about having and raising a child – it is indeed one of life’s biggest joys! But it’s also no surprise that behind that beautiful little human, is the hard work and consistency of a well-meaning parent! 

As a parent, you want to make sure your little one is getting enough sleep and playtime, eating the right foods, achieving her developmental milestones, and more.

With this long list of things to help keep your baby hale and hearty, it can be easy to overlook dental health. After all, when she doesn’t even have more than a few teeth, is taking care of them that important? She’ll lose her milk teeth anyway, right? Alas, this isn’t the case. In reality, the idea that baby teeth don’t really matter because babies lose them anyway is a common myth that could harm your child’s health.

Why Milk Teeth Matter

Milk teeth form the foundation of permanent teeth in more ways than you can imagine. A few reasons are listed below:

1. Cavities in milk teeth increase the risk of cavities in permanent teeth. Research and studies have shown that the risk goes up upto three times.
2. Overlooking your baby teeth can cause babies to lose milk teeth early. Since milk teeth are placeholders for permanent teeth, their premature loss can cause the permanent teeth to grow in the wrong manner and in the wrong places. 
3. The first five years of a child are critical from the lens of development. Healthy milk teeth ensure that they chew their food well and extract nutrition properly.

Now as we understand the importance of Milk teeth, it’s also important to understand how to care for them. Milk teeth are tender and susceptible to cavities.

Luckily, taking care of them can be effortless and can even create more bonding between you two if started early on. Take a look at our guide on taking care of milk teeth and making it fun and simple while you’re at it!

When Should You Start Brushing Your Baby’s Teeth?

Brushing must begin from the eruption of the first tooth in your baby’s mouth. Brushing action is the most effective way of cleaning. Cloth/finger are not effective substitutes and hence starting brushing early is key. Start with a baby soft toothbrush like Colgate Kids 0-2 Toothbrush and a baby-safe toothpaste such as Colgate Kids 0-2 Years Toothpaste which has 0% artificial colours, flavours, preservatives and is safe in case swallowed accidentally. Once teething is complete and your child’s eating habits evolve you can switch to Colgate Kids 3-5 Years toothpaste which protects tender milk teeth against cavities. 

It is also advised to visit a pedodontist once in the first year to get the baby’s teeth examined.

How to Brush Your Baby’s Teeth

Points below list out tips to brush your baby’s teeth right.

1. Sit in a spot where there is plenty of light. Place your baby’s head on your lap.
2. When your baby’s teeth start coming in – Start using a small, soft toothbrush 
3. Put a small amount of baby-safe toothpaste such as Colgate Kids 0-2 Years toothpaste on your baby’s toothbrush. Even toothpaste as little as the size of a rice grain is enough for your baby. Colgate’s 0-2 Years toothpaste doesn’t contain artificial preservatives, flavours, or colours and has a lesser abrasive formula that cleans milk teeth gently.
4. Place the toothbrush’s bristles at an angle next to a row of teeth and against the gum line. Gently approach the mouth and slowly brush each individual tooth. Make sure you brush the front and back of each tooth in small strokes and light circular motions that move back and forth. Do this twice a day for the best results.
5. Don’t forget to clean your baby’s tongue with the toothbrush too. This will ward off bacterial accumulation and prevent bad breath.
6. Post brushing, rinse the toothbrush with water and leave it to dry.

When it comes to brushing your baby’s teeth, you can never begin soon enough! For parents, knowing when to brush their baby’s teeth can make a huge impact on their child’s future dental health. 

If you wish to know more about Colgate Kids Oral Care Range, view them here.

Disclaimer: This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics for children. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Also Read:

How to Clean Baby Teeth
How to Take Care of Your Baby’s Emerging Teeth