Caring for new teeth
13:10 (GMT+2), Wed, 20 July 2011
You should care for your baby's teeth from the emergence of the very first one.
- At this early stage, simply use a clean, moist small flannel or a special finger 'hood' to wipe teeth once or twice a day.
- Once your baby is able to grasp well, use a babies' starter 'brush' to get him used to the idea of putting a toothbrush in his mouth.
- Always allow your little one to 'clean' his teeth while you brush yours, as copycat behaviour is very important in the learning process. Never make a big issue of it though, as this will introduce anxiety and resistance. Make it more of a game, while remembering that the mouth is a self-cleansing body part, to some extent.
- Once your child has most of his primary teeth, ensure brushing takes place at least twice daily.
- You don't need to use toothpaste before your baby is 2 or 3 years old, or once your toddler has mastered the art of spitting out and not swallowing the water. If you do, use only a small amount of special baby toothpaste – you don't need much for any one brushing. The flavour of this specialised toothpaste isn't as strong and fluoride levels are appropriate.
By Sister Lilian
Caring for new teeth: Do's and don'ts
sister lilian, teething, baby, remedies, toothdecay, symptoms of teething, treatment