It’s never too early to start teaching your children good dental habits. A common question parents ask is when the right time is to start brushing their child’s teeth.
I often suggest introducing a toothbrush to your baby even before she has teeth, but when the teething process begins. On average, that is in the range of four to six months of age. A good infant toothbrush, available at local drugstores, will have a small head with very soft bristles.
The infant toothbrush can be used for soothing when your baby is teething. A good trick is to put a clean toothbrush in the freezer, and then your baby can teethe on the icy brush head for comfort. This way, she gets accustomed to the toothbrush and comfortable with having a brush in her mouth. You can also use the infant toothbrush to gently massage and brush your baby’s gums.
Once the first tooth or teeth erupt, I recommend starting a routine brushing habit. Begin with a regular nighttime brushing after your baby’s last feeding or bottle of milk for the night. You can use baby toothpaste without fluoride at first.
Once your baby has two or more teeth though, I recommend switching to a fluoridated toothpaste under parent supervision. In accordance with American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines, use a very minimal amount, just a tiny smear of paste, equivalent to a tiny grain of rice or a small dot. Brush your baby’s teeth and then wipe away the paste with a damp washcloth or gauze. This way, your baby won’t swallow the paste.
Once teeth begin erupting in your baby’s mouth, the oral environment changes, and different bacteria can be present that cause dental decay. The fluoride toothpaste will give your baby’s teeth topical protection. The fluoride in toothpaste can prevent demineralization of enamel on the teeth, as demineralization can make teeth vulnerable to decay. Some babies particularly enjoy the feeling of a brush in their mouth and want to brush their teeth on their own, too! In this case, remember to only give your baby a clean toothbrush without paste or with a fluoride-free paste if she wants to brush by herself, so that there is no risk of swallowing fluoride toothpaste.
Your baby should have her first dental checkup around age 1 or after the first teeth erupt, so your pediatric dentist can also help you learn how to brush your baby’s teeth and wipe away the paste if you need help with technique. After you have a routine in place, start adding brushing time in the morning as well. As mentioned above, some babies like to try to brush their teeth on their own, and it’s fine to let them have a turn safely. However, the actual brushing should be done by a parent until they are older.
Making brushing a habit from a young age is important, it will lay the foundation for a lifetime of good oral health!
Dr. Lavanya Venkateswaran is a board-certified pediatric dentist, who practices at Tribeca Smiles and at Park Ave Smile. She is an assistant professor of clinical dentistry at Columbia University Medical Center and is an attending dentist in the department of Pediatric Dentistry.
