Expert Advice for New Parents

If you’re wondering when you should start brushing your baby’s teeth, you’re certainly not alone. Almost every new parent questions what they should be doing about their baby’s newly-erupted pearly whites. But the truth is, it’s never too early to start maintaining your baby’s oral health. 

We turned to some experts who indicated that your baby’s gum health is just as important as their teeth—especially since their teeth are already formed under the gums waiting to erupt. 

So, if you haven’t started already, you can gently clean their gums after they eat, even if they don’t have teeth yet. As for caring for those tiny, little teeth poking through the gums, here’s what pediatric dentists and other experts recommend for your baby’s first few months and beyond.

How Early Can I Brush My Baby’s Teeth?

It’s important to start brushing your baby’s teeth and mouth early on. Although your baby’s primary teeth, or “baby” teeth, are not a permanent part of their smile, they still play an important role. Not only do they help your child speak clearly and chew appropriately, but they also form a path for their permanent teeth to follow.

Even before those pearly whites erupt, you may want to get your baby used to having their mouth cleaned with a wet rag, or gauze, says Sonia Gutierrez-Ismail, DDS, a pediatric dentist and owner of Kids Dentist in Grayslake, Illinois. “Then as soon as the first tooth arrives, it is time to start using a toothbrush very gently over those teeth to keep them clean.” 

You can expect your baby’s first tooth to erupt somewhere between 3 months of age and 1 year old. But, most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 10 months of age. By the time your little one is about 33 months old, or about 3 years old, they may have all 20 baby teeth.

Choosing the Right Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Even before your baby has teeth, you can start with gauze or a washcloth to clean their mouth after eating, says Shiri Greenberg, DMD, clinical director of pediatric dentistry at Touro College of Dental Medicine. “This will also help to start your child along the path to a lifetime of excellent oral hygiene.”

After the teeth erupt, finger toothbrushes are a great option, adds Greenberg. “Later, they can move on to any soft bristled brush with a small head, preferably one designed for infants.”

Look for a brush that is appropriate for their age with soft bristles, suggests Gutierrez-Ismail, adding that it’s important to avoid any texture that’s too abrasive or hard.

Jonelle Anamelechi, DDS, MS, a pediatric dentist and owner of Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics recommends the Surround toothbrush. “It has bristles on all sides and, therefore, is very effective for squirmy brushes. As a mommy dentist, I also use it on my older kids (ages 6 and 9) as it comes in infant and toddler sizes as well as sizes for older kids.”

What about toothpaste?

The right amount of toothpaste will vary depending upon your baby’s age. “There’s no need for toothpaste until about age 1,” says Gutierrez-Ismail. “At the age of 1, you can introduce [a smear of] toothpaste, smaller than a grain of rice. At about 2 years of age, you can go up a little bit and make it the size of a grain of rice.”

The maximum amount of toothpaste for a child, even ages 6 to 8, should be the size of a pea.

It’s important teach your child to spit when they are brushing, points out Gutierrez-Ismail, though this skill can be tricky to get the hang of. “Children typically don’t learn to spit until age 3 or 4, which is why we recommend a very small amount of toothpaste.” However, it’s still important to use toothpaste, because it provides ingredients that help remove plaque and fight bacteria.

Tooth-Brushing Techniques for Babies

The process of brushing your baby’s teeth can feel overwhelming, especially your first time. The key is to go slow, be gentle, and make it fun. Anamelechi offers the following step-by-step guide to make brushing a little easier. Once you get the hang of it, it should become a normal part of your routine.

1. Wet the toothbrush.
2. Put a little water on the toothbrush to soften the bristles.
3. Apply toothpaste.
4. Squeeze a small amount of fluoride toothpaste onto the toothbrush. (Kids under 3 use a tiny smear and kids 3 to 6 use a pea-sized amount.)
5. Start brushing and be gentle.
6. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your baby’s gums.
7. Use small, gentle circles to clean the front, back, and chewing surfaces of every tooth.
8. Brush for two minutes or for kids with less than 20 teeth about five seconds per tooth.
9. Set a timer or sing a short song twice to help with timing.
10. Spit out the toothpaste but don’t rinse with water. Anamelechi says this lets the fluoride keep protecting your baby’s teeth.
11. Wash the toothbrush with water and store it upright to air dry.

When to Visit the Dentist

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends establishing a dental home by 12 months of age. “This provides critical opportunities to discuss and implement preventive practices and reduces your child’s risk of preventable dental and oral disease,” says Greenberg. 

At these visits, your pediatric dentist will do a clinical exam and will discuss topics like brushing and weaning from the bottle, she says. They also may talk about the age-appropriate time to wean from pacifiers and thumb-sucking, and discuss diet and nutrition, she says. Meanwhile, you can ask questions about teething pain, preventing injuries, swallowing issues, and anything else you may be curious about.

“A pediatric dentist will also discuss your child’s [cavities] risk…and offer counseling regarding your child’s fluoride exposure including drinking optimally-fluoridated water,” says Greenberg. “A child’s dental home should be a comfortable place where the parent and child feel comfortable asking questions and getting care.”