Ages and Stages: 0-2 Years Old

Dental care for babies is important, even though the first teeth don’t actually break through until the 6-8 month mark for most babies. Gum care can be done simply by wiping them with a soft cloth after you feed your baby. If you didn’t know already, you can actually start brushing when the first tooth breaks through at least twice a day with a tiny bit of fluoride toothpaste and a soft brush.

We realize that swallowing a great amount of toothpaste can be very dangerous for your infant if fluoride is present, but just a tiny bit has been proven safe and is actually now recommended as the standard practice by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. This amount would be equivalent to the size of a grain of rice.

Try to never put your baby to sleep with a bottle in his or her mouth or use sippy cups or bottles in the course of the day. The sugars from milk and juice (yes, even breast milk) can cause cavities and tooth decay. We can discuss this further with you when you bring your baby in for his or her first appointment.

We prefer to see your child when the first tooth breaks through, but try not to wait until after the first birthday at the very latest.