Your older baby or toddler will probably want to try her hand at brushing herself; let her give it a go if she has the dexterity and doesn't just get frustrated , but be sure to follow up with a more thorough cleaning of your own before bed. To encourage her interest in brushing her teeth, try a fun brush with a favorite character and bright color. Also let her watch you take good care of your own teeth, so she learns that it's a habit to keep for life. Unfortunately, not every baby loves having her teeth cleaned — and when baby is teething and her gums are sore and tender, she might be especially resistant.
Here's what to try if tooth-brushing time becomes a struggle:. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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Registry Builder New. Brushing Baby's Teeth. Medically Reviewed by Michelle Kelman, D. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. From the very first tooth, your baby will benefit from proper dental care. Back to Top. In This Article. Early oral care will help keep the unerupted teeth healthy and encourage them to come in properly.
Follow this timeline for early dental care to give your baby the best possible start. 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. A small smear of fluoride toothpaste can be used with a soft bristled toothbrush twice daily when the first tooth emerges.
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. 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 those teeth twice a day with a small smear of fluoride toothpaste on an infant toothbrush. 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 smear of fluoride toothpaste, as well as the gums where there are not yet any teeth showing.
If your baby still does not have any teeth by their first birthday, there is still no cause for alarm. Did you know? Baby and toddler toothbrushes At first it might be easier to clean their teeth with a piece of clean cloth on your finger Family Lives, How to brush their teeth, and how often A helping hand: For babies, sit them on your knee and rest their head against your chest while you brush their teeth.
Brush their teeth at least twice a day : Just before bed and at any other time. Brush the teeth in small circles, covering all the surfaces: And encourage them to spit the toothpaste out afterwards, just like they see their mum and dad doing. There's no need to rinse with water though, as this will just wash away the fluoride.
NHS Choices, , The important thing is that you start to make it part of their routine. Let them hold the toothbrush: If they feel more in control of things, they might be more into it. Make it into a game, or brush your own teeth at the same time: Then they can copy you — this can work from a really young age. Watch out for their wriggling: Supervision is key, a baby and a stick of plastic in their mouth could all end in tears if they fall forwards, so keep a close eye NHS Choices, When do I need to take my baby to the dentist?
This page was last reviewed in September Further information Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: Show references. Information you can trust from NCT When it comes to content, our aim is simple: every parent should have access to information they can trust. Share this.
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