The short answer is to start brushing with a tooth brush when the first tooth erupts through the gums. But there’s a lot more to the question of when and how to brush their teeth.
The truth is that it’s never too early to start taking steps to maintain your baby’s oral health. Even before a baby has teeth showing, their gum health is important. The teeth are already formed underneath the gums when the baby is still in the womb. Early oral care will help keep the non-erupted teeth healthy and encourage them to come in properly.
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Follow this timeline for early dental care to give your baby the best possible start.
0-3 Months: Gum Care
Most babies will not have any teeth before the age of 3 months. Even if there are no teeth, it is still a good idea to clean the gums daily. This can be done with a clean, damp washcloth or a soft bristled toothbrush made for infants. Some infant toothbrushes are made of soft rubber and designed to fit over your finger to ensure only gentle pressure is applied. We recommend using a soft bristled toothbrush, no paste, twice daily when the first tooth emerges.
3-6 Months: Continue Gum Care and Begin Tooth Brushing
Many babies will still not have any teeth at this age, but some start to get teeth by the age of 6 months. Continue to clean the gums with a washcloth or consider starting to use an infant toothbrush at this age. Brushing the baby’s gums can help relieve teething pain and encourage tooth eruption. If any of your baby’s teeth have erupted by this age, brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a rice-grain amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day. If your baby likes to experiment brushing on their own, only use a wet brush without toothpaste.
6-9 Months: Continue Gum Care and Begin Tooth Brushing
There is a greater chance that your baby will have at least one or two teeth that have erupted by this time. However, it is still perfectly normal for your baby not to have any teeth showing yet at this age. If there are not yet any teeth showing above the gum line, continue brushing the gums once a day. If there are one or multiple teeth showing, brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a rice-grain amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day. If your baby likes to experiment brushing on their own, only use a wet brush without toothpaste.
9-12 Months: Brush Those New Teeth
By now your baby likely has a few teeth that have erupted through the gums. It is important to brush those teeth twice a day, always with just a rice-grain amount of fluoride toothpaste when an adult brushes the baby's teeth. Also, brush the sides of the teeth, especially the molars as they may have started to erupt as well. Be sure to massage the gums where there are not yet any teeth showing as well. If your baby still does not have any teeth by their first birthday, there is still no cause for alarm. But regardless of the number of teeth your baby has, at this age it is time to consider making your baby’s first dental appointment.
For more information or to schedule an insurance-friendly appointment, contact Tooth Buds Pediatric Dentistry, at 2929 N. Southport Ave, Chicago. Request an appointment in our office here: https://www.ToothBudsChicago.com. Or call us at (773)328.8282.
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