Even though baby teeth are temporary, it is very important to know how to take care of them so that children can develop speech, chewing and final alignment of their future teeth. Did you know that primary teeth serve as a guide for the eruption of permanent teeth? With a proper hygiene routine, which you can start even before the appearance of their first tooth, you will help them prevent the formation of cavities and other oral problems.

When should you start cleaning your baby's teeth?

As parents, you can start taking care of your baby's mouth even before the first baby tooth appears, which takes place between 6 and 12 months of age. Before that time, it is advisable to clean their gums with a wet gauze whenever their diet is not exclusively breast milk, so you can remove food debris and prevent bacteria from proliferating in their mouth. As soon as we see the first baby tooth appear, you should use a special toothbrush designed for babies.

Remember that dental plaque can also form on the gums and gradually end up damaging the enamel of the newly erupted teeth. This type of caries is known as rampant caries or baby bottle caries, and is one of the most common diseases in babies. Do not let your baby fall asleep with the bottle in his mouth and reduce nighttime feedings as he grows. It is also advisable not to sweeten the pacifier with honey or sugar, as well as to avoid sugary drinks.

How to clean baby teeth step by step

Remember that the dental hygiene routine changes as they grow, taking into account both their age and the needs of each child, so it is necessary to have the advice of your dentist. He or she will help you choose the most appropriate accessories and techniques. Here is a general idea of how to clean them at each stage:

Before teething (up to 6 months)

If your baby has a mixed diet or you use prepared formulas, use a wet gauze or a silicone thimble to clean his gums after each feeding. Take the opportunity to gently massage the gums to stimulate circulation and relieve teething discomfort.

If in doubt, consult with your dentist at their first dental checkup to find out which dental accessory to use for each phase, it is common for parents to confuse gum massagers with baby toothbrushes. Usually this consultation takes place around one year of age, when their first tooth comes in, but anytime is fine.

Eruption of the first baby tooth (6 to 12 months)

As soon as the first baby tooth erupts, you can switch to a soft-bristled infant toothbrush. You only need to moisten it a little in water and carefully clean each tooth. Ideally, this should be done twice a day, especially before bedtime. It is important to lift the upper lip to properly clean the incisors, which is where the first cavities usually appear.

Boys and girls from 1 to 3 years old

At this age, we should start adding a small amount of fluoride toothpaste to their teeth brushing, at least 1000 ppm, and no bigger than a grain of rice. Remember to do it in circular movements to remove food debris, do not forget to clean both the front and the back, the tongue and the inside of the cheeks. Be careful not to swallow the paste.

There are a multitude of oral care products for children, including FluorKIN Calcium, to give them the protection they need at each stage of their growth and remineralize their teeth to prevent the formation of cavities. Caries in baby teeth is very aggressive, the enamel is not as resistant and the infection can pass quickly to the dentin pulp.

Boys and girls from 3 to 6 years old

With older children, we can increase the amount of toothpaste a little more, in this case, to a size similar to that of a pea. It is important to teach them to spit out the toothpaste after brushing, without rinsing with water, and to introduce dental floss little by little into the routine.

From the age of 6, they can start brushing on their own, but as parents you should always supervise their technique at least until they are 8 or 9 years old so that they learn to do it well. When the time is right, you can add Mouthwash with fluoride to strengthen the enamel.

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More tips for caring for baby teeth

The tips for taking care of baby teeth are quite similar to the usual ones for dental hygiene. First of all, it is important to maintain a balanced diet in which the consumption of sugars, for example, present in candies, cookies, soft drinks and non-natural juices, is reduced as much as possible. It is also important to ensure that the child drinks enough water to prevent the accumulation of bacteria and to keep the mouth hydrated.

Although it may seem like a challenge, with perseverance, your children will eventually adopt the habit of brushing their teeth and taking care of their dental hygiene as they get older. You can make it a fun activity, with songs or games that spark the motivation they need to do it day after day until it becomes a habit.

In short, caring for their teeth from a very young age ensures that they have good dental health in the future, so from birth until the eruption of their first baby tooth onwards, as parents you play a very important role in the acquisition of new habits and in them growing up with a cavity-free mouth, without discomfort or other complications that may affect their general health.