Ways to brush a baby's teeth

Teeth brushing!

When to start? When the first tooth erupts.

Toothpaste or no toothpaste? The AAP and ADA both recommend fluoride toothpaste when the first tooth erupts with a “smear.” If you don’t want to use fluoride, you can use a fluoride-free toothpaste, but both the AAP and ADA agree that fluoride as used in toothpaste is safe for babies and children.

Who is considered high risk for cavities? Any baby who is high-risk should absolutely get fluoride toothpaste:

✔️Primary caregiver has active caries
✔️More than 3 sugar containing snacks or beverages per day
✔️Going to bed with a bottle
✔️White spot lesions on the teeth
✔️Hx of cavities
✔️Low socioeconomic status

How to do it? Try various positions for baby in case the one you are using doesn’t work forever!

How often should you brush? Twice a day (after breakfast and after the last bottle/BF of the evening). Look, real life happens. Try the best you can to brush. Sometimes we only get one time in. Practice is important from a young age.

What position do you brush your child’s teeth in? When did you start brushing your child’s teeth? Anybody else digging reels for education?🤣

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