Can you brush the tiny new teeth sprouting from your baby’s gums? The answer is yes you can, using an infant toothbrush. If using a soft-bristled baby toothbrush isn’t working try a clean damp washcloth, gauze pad, or finger brush to gently clean your baby’s first teeth and tongue. Also, brushing after meals and at bedtime with fluoride-free toothpaste is effective. The amount of toothpaste should be about the size of a grain of rice. But what happens if you are having a tough time brushing your baby’s teeth? Maybe your baby puts up a fight and it becomes an unpleasant experience for both of you. Don’t worry you aren’t alone. Here are three super simple tips that may help make brushing your baby’s teeth a little bit easier.
1. GET THEM INVOLVED.
– Take turns brushing your baby’s teeth. Let your baby brush for a few seconds and then you take a turn. As your baby grows you can help to foster a sense of independence when you do this simple activity.
– Toothbrushing can help enhance some important developmental skills. As your baby practices holding and using the toothbrush they are also exercising their fine motor skills. Likewise, as you instruct and describe the process of cleaning their teeth you are enhancing their language development.
– Make tooth brushing a daily family routine that your baby looks forward to being a part of. Watching you and older siblings may encourage your baby to participate.
2. MAKE IT FUN.
Babies and children view the world in a playful way. Make toothbrushing time a fun game or activity that can instill a sense of excitement for your little ones. Try pretending the toothbrush or your finger is an airplane coming in for a landing! Why not try singing a fun toothbrushing song, you can find some online or have fun making up your own.
Try these simple tunes the next time you’re brushing your baby’s or your toddler’s teeth.
Brush, Brush, Brush your teeth – in the style of “Row Row Row your Boat”
Brush, Brush, Brush your teeth brush them till they’re clean,
Brush them high and brush them low brush them till they’re clean.
This is the way we brush our teeth – in the style of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”
This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth
This is the way we brush our teeth so early in the morning/before we go to sleep/after we eat
3. PREPARE YOUR CHILD.
Find children’s stories that involve brushing teeth at your local book store or library. You can even find great youtube videos with nursery rhymes and stories all about brushing teeth. Babies and children love stories that teach them about themselves and the activities they perform daily. As your baby gets older remind them that they are big boys/girls and brushing their teeth is a fun part of growing up.
If you have concerns about your baby’s oral health you can start bringing them to the dentist as early as 6 months old (when they start showing their first few teeth). We can answer any oral health questions you may have and your baby will get accustomed to seeing the dentist.
Are you still having trouble brushing your baby’s teeth? Do you have any concerns about your baby’s dental health. Give us a call to see how we help you.
