How to clean baby teeth

Even though your baby’s first set of teeth aren’t permanent, it’s important to keep your toddler’s teeth clean for his healthy development and we know exactly how to clean baby teeth. Cavities form when the naturally occurring bacteria in your toddler’s mouth combine with sugars in the food residues left on his teeth, producing an acid that attacks his tooth enamel.

Teaching your baby to care for his teeth offers another great chance for you to bond, while helping make trips to the dentist easier and instilling lifelong healthy dental habits early on. Read on to know more about baby dental health and baby teeth cleaning.

Teeth Care For Babies:

When to Clean Your Toddler’s Teeth

It is crucial to maintain baby dental hygiene. Your toddler will need his teeth cleaned at least twice a day. After breakfast and after his evening meal are ideal times, but before bedtime is the most important time to brush a child's teeth; decay-causing bacteria are more likely to grow at night.

How to Brush Your Toddler’s Teeth

Instead, how to get toddler to brush teeth!

• The best way to brush baby teeth is to appeal to your toddler's sense of independence (only big boys and girls get to brush their own teeth), provide some tasty toothpaste and a small, soft toothbrush like JOHNSON’S® baby toothbrush, and the task may be greeted with the same enthusiasm as a new toy.

• Use a pea-size amount of toothpaste containing fluoride. Too much fluoride could cause permanent tooth stains

• He may only concentrate on the front, so remind him to get the teeth hiding in the back

• Show him how to rinse thoroughly with water, and then carefully brush his teeth yourself, as young babies usually don't get into all of the cracks and crevices. By the time he's in second or third grade, he'll be able to brush his teeth on his own.

When to Take Your Toddler to the Dentist

Now is a good time to get your toddler used to visiting the dentist every 6 months for a checkup. Do your best to make the occasion fun. If he's nervous, sit him on your lap in the "magic" chair so the dentist can have a quick look inside his mouth.

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