With those chubby little cheeks and tiny button nose, there’s nothing that can light up a room quite like a baby’s smile. That gummy little grin will soon start to sprout teeth, but caring for a baby’s smile starts well before the first tooth arrives. As a parent, your baby’s happy, healthy smile starts with you!
Caring for Your Baby’s Mouth
Keeping your baby’s mouth clean, even before the first tooth appears, will help keep your baby’s mouth healthy.
- Use a clean, damp washcloth or soft baby toothbrush to clean your baby’s gums after every feeding, or at least twice a day, and then again right before bedtime.
- After the first tooth comes in, use a soft toothbrush and water to clean your baby’s teeth twice a day.
- Babies under 1 year of age do not need to use toothpaste.
Baby’s First Tooth
Many parents wonder when their babies’ teeth will come in, and some even start to worry if their baby hasn’t cut a tooth by a certain age. All babies begin teething at different times, but in general, babies usually get their first tooth around 6 months and usually have all 20 “baby teeth” by the time they’re 2½ years old. If your baby seems to be drooling more and acting a little fussier than usual, it may be a sign the first tooth is on the way!
Teething
The truth is, teething isn’t much fun for anyone. It can be a painful process for babies and exhausting for parents. Just remember, it’s not forever!
Common symptoms of teething can include:
- Drooling (which can sometimes lead to a facial rash)
- Gum swelling and sensitivity
- Fussiness
- Refusing to eat or nurse
- Waking up at night
- Ear rubbing
Here are a few things that can help with your baby’s discomfort:
- Chewing
- To help soothe your baby’s gums, offer a clean, chilled teething ring, washcloth, or pacifier for your baby to chew on. Freezing cold temperatures can hurt little gums, so chill items in the refrigerator, not the freezer.
- Teething babies will chew on just about anything, so be sure to keep anything that shouldn’t be in your baby’s mouth out of your baby’s reach!
- Rubbing
- Use your clean finger, or a chilled, wet washcloth to gently rub your baby’s gums.
- Medicine
- If chewing or rubbing doesn’t seem to be helping, talk with your baby’s doctor about teething pain relief medication.
- Always talk to your baby’s doctor before offering any medications or treatments. This includes any of those “homemade remedies” you may have heard about from friends, family, or online.
Baby Teeth Matter!
Your baby needs healthy baby teeth in order to chew food and learn how to talk. Taking good care of baby teeth can also help adult teeth come in straighter.
Not taking care of baby teeth can lead to tooth decay, a dental problem that can harm your child’s teeth and cause cavities. It can be painful for your child, and if left untreated, can cost a lot of money to fix.
Here’s how you can help prevent tooth decay and keep your baby’s mouth healthy:
- Keep Your Germs to Yourself
- When you put things that have been in your mouth into your baby’s mouth (like food, cups, utensils, or pacifiers) you’re also sharing germs. These germs can lead to tooth decay. Many busy moms admit to “cleaning” a pacifier by blowing off the dirt and then giving it a quick “mouth rinse.” The thing is, this isn’t actually cleaning — it’s just spreading more germs! Take time to clean an item with water before offering it back to your baby and keep your baby‘s food and utensils separate from your own.
- Win the Battle of the Bottle
- Babies who fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth, or who sip on drinks from a bottle for long periods of time are more likely to suffer from tooth decay. Only offer a bottle during feedings, not at bedtime.
- Make a Dentist Appointment
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Take your baby to the dentist by their first birthday. At this first visit, your dentist can check your baby’s teeth and discuss ways to prevent tooth decay.
