How to Brush Your Baby's Teeth - What to Expect

Those baby teeth will need to bite and chew thousands of meals and snacks, but also serve as vital place-holders for teeth to come.

Learn more about brushing teeth at WhatToExpect.com: https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-ye...

Download the What to Expect app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pregn...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...

Heidi Murkoff, creator of What to Expect, is here to guide you through every stage of your baby's life. Watch all of our first year videos:    • Your Baby's First Year  

FOLLOW US:
Facebook:   / whattoexpectwhenyoureexpecting  
Twitter:   / whattoexpect  
Pinterest:   / whattoexpect  
Instagram:   / whattoexpect  

Transcript:

They're tiny and cute as can be, whenever they end up poking through. But baby teeth aren't just for babies. Yes, they're scheduled to fall out and be replaced with permanent teeth. Still, those pearly whites your baby works so hard cutting will have their work cut out for them not only to bite and chew thousands of meals and snacks, but also as vital place-holders for teeth to come, helping ensure proper mouth and speech development.
They're little teeth with a big mission, and it's your mission to protect them right from the start. As in, now. Even if they're still on their way, it's time to begin caring for your baby's chompers, and establishing habits that will take your little teether through a lifetime of tip top dental health.
Topping the list? Brushing, of course. At least twice a day, definitely after the last feed of the night. You can make it part of the bedtime routine. Use a clean, damp washcloth or gauze pad, baby dental wipes, or a silicone finger brush to gently wipe baby's teeth and gums.
Prefer a toothbrush? Choose one that's super soft and designed for baby-sized mouths, with just a few rows of bristles, and swap it out when it gets rough around the edges. The earlier you get busy brushing, the more receptive your baby will be, especially if you also use the opportunity to give sore gums a soothing massage.
Counter pressure will please your baby, even if he's not so pleased with the brushing routine. You can also offer a teething toothbrush of his own, letting him chomp while getting a brushing bonus.
No need to add toothpaste, but the right one can sweeten brushing and help seal the deal. Use just a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste and a little water to moisten, and don't worry if she swallows some; she will. Tiny quantities won't hurt her or her teeth.
Facing resistance? Try brushing your little one's teeth facing the mirror, so he can watch his favorite baby getting brushed, too. Set tooth-brushing to song, the sillier the better, like Mary had a Little Tooth.
Other tooth-healthy habits to get into now? First, limit refined carbs in your little one's diet since they quickly turn into sugar on those sweet teeth, actually posing as much of a cavity risk as candy.
Next, make sure your baby is getting the fluoride she needs. She probably is, thanks to fluoridated drinking water and that smidge of fluoride toothpaste. But if you're not sure about your tap water, or if she's not drinking any, ask baby's doctor whether a fluoride supplement makes sense.
Finally, set limits on bottles and sippy cups. Babies who fall asleep with a bottle in their mouths or nip or sip all day are at risk of tooth decay. So-called baby-bottle mouth happens when formula or juice or another sugary liquid pools around those tiny teeth, making them vulnerable to bacteria and acids that erode brand new enamel.
Water's no worry, but it's best not to get into the habit of bedding your baby down with a bottle or letting him crawl around with a sippy cup. Turn to straw cups or regular cups instead of sippies once he's able; they're a better dental bet. Here's to healthy baby teeth!