Who doesn’t love a cute toothless gummy smile swirled in gurgles and burbles? Those tiny pink little gums though, are the foundation for your baby’s first teeth. Which means that your baby’s dental care has to start even before she sprouts her first pearly whites.
Mummy time needs to be followed by gummy time!
You can start caring for your little one’s gums right from birth. Initially, of course, you don’t need a toothbrush or paste. Instead use a damp piece of soft cloth or gauze to wipe your baby’s gums after each feed. This will keep your baby’s gums germ-free. PS. Bacteria that overstay their welcome become plaque – a rough deposit that weakens your baby’s first teeth.
Tooth is stranger than fiction.
Did you know that one out of every 2000 babies (approximately) is born with teeth? Most babies, however, start teething at around 6 months of age, but your little tot’s chompers may even appear as early as 3 months or, in some cases as late as 14 months. This depends on factors such as when mom and dad started sprouting teeth and whether or not your baby was a preemie (a premature baby). Preemies tend to teeth later than other babies.
Don’t rush the toothbrush!
Your baby’s first teeth don’t need a regular toothbrush. Like with the gums, you can use a soft piece of clean muslin wrapped around your finger. Or better still, use Morisons Baby Dreams Teething Finger Toothbrush. This brush https://www.jlmorison.com/shop/morisons-baby-dreams-finger-tooth-brush.html (made from materials that are 100% food grade) fits snugly on a mom’s finger. Just put a tiny smear of toothpaste on it, and gently rub it around your baby’s teeth.
Your brush decision shouldn’t be a brash one!
When it’s finally time to turn to the toothbrush, make sure that you pick one with soft nylon bristles, a tiny head and a long handle. This vibrant, playful range of Morisons Baby Dreams Toothbrushes might just be what the doctor ordered https://www.jlmorison.com/shop/babycare/oralcare/toothbrush.html Don’t forget to replace your baby’s toothbrush the moment the bristles start to spread out. We don’t want any harm coming to those soft gums now, do we?
Brushing: Make it a bit of a habit.
Start cleaning your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as brushing becomes part of her daily regimen. The advantage of starting early is that your baby will get used to this habit and won’t make a fuss about brushing twice a day when she’s old enough to talk (and argue!). You need to personally brush your baby’s teeth until she is old enough to hold the brush. Continue to supervise her while she’s brushing until she can rinse her mouth and spit independently. That usually happens by the time a kid turns 6.
Your Fluoride Guide
If your baby is less than 3 years old, ensure that you pick up a fluoride-free (or lower-fluoride) toothpaste for her. Basically your baby’s toothpaste must contain not more than 1,000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride. So the chances are that your baby won’t be able to share the family toothpaste. She will, of course, be able to share the sweetest Colgate smiles.You must take your baby to a paediatric dentist 6 months after she gets her first tooth or when she turns one year old (whichever milestone comes first).
