My Baby Has Teeth Now! How Often Should We Brush

Parenthood is a beautiful thing. And as your infant grows into a toddler, one of the biggest changes you’ll notice is that their teeth will start to come in, and you’ll be able to start feeding them solid food! 

But how do you take care of your little one’s teeth? How often should you brush? When should their teeth come out, anyway? In this blog from Desert Kids Dental, we’ll answer all of these questions and more!
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When Will My Child’s Teeth Start To Appear?

The front teeth usually come out first, around the age of 6-12 months. If your child’s front teeth still have not come out within 12 months, you may want to see a dentist to check on their oral development. 
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How Often Should I Brush My Child’s Teeth?

We recommend brushing after every major feeding. If your child has a little snack, you don’t need to brush their teeth, but after they bottle feed or have a larger meal, it’s best to brush. At a minimum, brush their teeth twice a day, once in the morning and again at night.

Smear some fluoride toothpaste, about the amount of a grain of rice, onto a baby toothbrush. Then, moisten it and clean all of their teeth thoroughly. You should also gently brush their gums to remove any food particles. You’ll want to brush for about 1-2 minutes, depending on how many teeth your child has.

That’s it! Keep brushing after every meal or at least twice a day, and your child’s teeth will stay healthy and strong. You’ll need to brush your child’s teeth for them until they’re about 5 or 6, at which time they can take over!
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When Should I Start Flossing My Child’s Teeth?

You should start flossing as soon as your child has 2 teeth that touch each other. This usually happens around the age of 2-3. You should floss your child’s teeth once per day. 

It’s a lot harder to learn to floss than it is to learn to brush. Most kids can’t floss on their own until age 8-10, so you’ll need to do it for them for a while. You may also consider buying floss picks for your kids. These are not quite as effective as string floss, but have plastic handles that make it easier for kids to floss on their own.
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How Do We Make It Fun? Quick Tips And Recommendations

Wondering how you can keep things fun while brushing your child’s teeth? Here are a few suggestions! 

• Sing songs – Find some songs about tooth brushing (or make some up) and sing them to your child! The sillier, the better!
  
  
• Brush as a family – Brushing together makes oral hygiene a family affair, and will help keep your child comfortable and happy as their teeth are cleaned.
  
  
• Let them pick the brush and toothpaste – Fun, kid-friendly toothpaste flavors and toothbrushes with cartoon characters and other fun designs are available. Let your child pick their own if they’re old enough. This will make brushing more fun! 
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Has Your Child Got Their First Tooth? It’s Time For A Dentist Appointment! 

When your child gets their first tooth, it’s recommended that you take them to the dentist for the first time, and begin seeing the dentist every six months for preventive care. At Desert Kids Dental, Dr. Sandra Thompson is a family-focused pediatric dentist in Las Vegas, and provides expert treatment for kids of all ages.
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So don’t wait. Get the expert care your little one needs in Las Vegas. Contact us online or give us a call at (702) 660-7099 to schedule your child’s first consultation right away.