How to look after your baby's teeth

Your baby’s first tooth is an exciting milestone. It’s also the beginning of learning to look after your child’s oral health and setting them up with great habits for life.

“As soon as your baby gets their first tooth, you should start brushing it,” says Head Dentist at Bupa, Dr Cathryn Madden. 

“Baby toothbrushes either come with very, very soft bristles, or a silicone-style brush,” says Dr Madden.

“It doesn’t matter which one you use. To start with, it will be more a case of them just chewing on it, but that’s okay. At this stage it’s simply about getting them used to having something in their mouth.”

You can start using toothpaste as soon as your baby has their first tooth.

“You should use an age-appropriate toothpaste,” says Dr Madden. “The most important thing is the amount you’re using. You only need the tiniest smear of toothpaste because babies can’t spit it out. It’s important there’s a small amount of fluoride in the toothpaste too.”

Dr Madden says that some children aren’t keen on strong minty flavours to start with. “There are other flavours on the market, but at some point it’s a good idea to wean them on to minty flavours as that’s mainly what’s available as they get older.

Many young children don’t like having a toothbrush shoved in their mouth.

“Let them have a go at doing it themselves,” says Dr Madden. “Let them do the morning brush, then a parent can do the evening brush.”

It’s also important for them to see you brush your teeth. “Let them watch you, so they understand it’s a normal activity,” she adds.

Using timers, apps and songs can all help make teeth brushing more fun.

“Electric toothbrushes can make it more interesting too. You still have to use them appropriately, but if it makes it more fun, then go for it.”

“Dummies can affect the alignment of teeth,” says Dr Madden. “You can always tell a child who sucks a dummy or their thumb, because when they bite together, there's a big gap between their top and bottom teeth where their thumb or dummy usually fits. It can affect speech too.”

“You need to actively try and stop children from these habits from around 2 and a half. If they’re doing it beyond the age of 3 or 4, it can affect the alignment of permanent teeth too.”

“It’s good for babies and toddlers to tag along to a check-up with a parent or sibling, and watch from a pushchair,” says Dr Madden.

“The most important thing is that they know the dentist is not anything to be afraid of. The dentist can have a quick look, or if there are any concerns, give preventive advice.”

“Realistically toddlers aren’t going to sit in a dentist’s chair until they’re 2 or 3 years old,” she adds. “It’s a good idea to let them sit in your lap on the chair so it’s not overwhelming.”

• Don’t let your baby go to sleep with a bottle of milk or formula. The sugar in these allows bacteria in the mouth to form plaque acids on teeth, which can lead to tooth decay.
• Limit fruit juices and dried fruits in your baby and toddler’s diet. Be extra careful to brush their teeth after they consume these products.
• Replace toothbrushes every 3 months or so. Do this more often if they’re showing wear.
• Brush for long enough time. The ideal brushing time is between 2 to 3 minutes, but this can be slightly less when brushing baby teeth.