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Baby teeth may be small, but they're important, they act as placeholders for adult teeth. It’s essential to take good care of your baby's teeth now, because establishing good dental habits early on helps ensure a lifetime of dental health1. Without a healthy set of baby teeth, the child will have trouble chewing and speaking clearly. So decayed baby teeth can interfere with good nutrition and speech development. If decayed baby teeth fall out, they don't hold a proper place for future teeth, which can make the permanent ones come in crooked1. That's why caring for baby teeth and keeping them decay-free is so important.
Tooth-brushing can begin as soon as teeth begin appearing above the gum line, it’s recommended that you make sure to brush your child’s teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and just before bed (to avoid allowing food or milk to sit in their mouth overnight).2
For children ages 3 to 6, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste making sure to encourage swallowing as little as possible of the toothpaste. Choose a small, child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush. Soaking the brush in warm water for a few minutes before brushing can soften the bristles even more.2
You should brush your baby's teeth until he or she is old enough to hold the brush. Continue to supervise the process until your child can rinse and spit without assistance. That usually happens at around age 6.3
Always ask your health care professional for more advice.
Mohammad Kamal Harb
Pediatrician
1https://www.whattoexpect.com/brushing-baby-teeth.
