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  2.32 (Worth a try) from 3 votes (167 Visits) |
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Teaching Babies to Brush their Teeth - REVISED |
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- Start brushing as soon as the first tooth arrives, if not before. You can buy special infant toothbrushes for teething babies that look more like a plastic stick with little bumps on it - this should help your baby get used to the idea. You can also use a wet cloth if the baby will let you put it in their mouth (mine wouldn't as he associated it with having his face washed - which he hated).
- Try to make teeth brushing fun - doing it in front of the mirror enables baby/toddler to see what you're doing and they enjoy smiling at themselves at the same time. Brush your own teeth in front of them to help them get the idea - but DO NOT share toothbrushes. If they offer you theirs just pretend.
- Wait until your child can spit toothpaste out on command before introducing toothpaste - as ingesting too much fluoride could cause marks on their permanent teeth.
- Keep sugary foods to a minimum - including juice
- Brush teeth twice a day, but not within 1/2 hr of a meal - as the acid that is still in the mouth could cause further erosion if brushed.
- The biggest cause of decay in young children is being put to sleep with a milk feed, so once a child's teeth come in, try to cease further milk feeds directly before bed-time
- Babies aren't born with decay-causing bacteria in their mouths. It is usually transferred through kissing or sharing food utensils. So ensure your own teeth are looked after and decay treated as well as beng careful not to share utensils, drinks, dummies, toothbrushes etc.
- Make sure teeth have been brushed before bed
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| ADVICE RATING |
2.32 (Worth a try) from 3 votes |
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(March 2009) (
