Your baby’s first tooth usually comes out when the child is between 5 and 9 months old. But it may also occur sooner or later. Some babies are even born with a tooth! But that is a very rare occurrence.. From the moment the first tooth comes through, it is best to make a habit of brushing your teeth right away. In this article, we will share tips and tricks about brushing your baby’s or child’s teeth with you.
How often do you have to brush your baby's teeth?
In the beginning, you only need to brush your children’s teeth once a day. You do this until your child is 2 years old, after which you should brush their teeth twice a day. It is best to brush your baby ‘s teeth at night before sleeping. Make sure that your baby will not drink another bottle afterwards, because then the brushing will be of little use. A bottle of water will not hurt, of course.
Toddler toothpaste
Before brushing, use a toothbrush and toothpaste specially designed for young children. Especially the use of a special toothpaste (so-called “toddler toothpaste”) is important, because it contains less fluoride than adult toothpaste. Ingesting too much fluoride will have negative consequences for the body and teeth of young children. From the age of 5, your child can use a regular toothpaste.
Gum brushing
Brush with small back and forth movements. You can also brush the gums where there are no teeth yet. This not only removes all harmful residues in the mouth, but also gently massages the gums, which can have a relieving effect on the passage of teeth.
Sing a song while brushing your baby’s teeth
Make brushing your teeth a fun moment with your child. Does your baby struggle, when you brush his or her teeth? Then try to see if your baby likes to help with brushing the teeth. For example, do it yourself first, but allow your child to brush their teeth themselves afterwards. Once the teeth are properly clean, you can hand your child the brush and let them brush their own teeth for a while. There are also books on brushing teeth and songs you can sing while brushing to make it all even more fun and appealing.
Finger toothbrush
Is it a bit difficult to brush your baby’s teeth in the beginning? Then try it with a finger toothbrush (which is made of a very soft type of natural rubber) or with a wet washcloth. Either way, brushing your child’s teeth is important from the moment they cut their first teeth!
