Early Childhood Oral Care: Protecting Your Baby's First Teeth

Tooth decay can begin as soon as the first tooth erupts in baby's mouth. The American Dental Association recommends cleaning baby's mouth as early as a few days after birth. Bacteria pass through saliva when you or a caregiver shares a spoon with your baby or cleans a pacifier in her mouth. Sugary liquids in baby's mouth, like juice, cause tooth decay because the bacteria in the mouth use these sugars as food, producing acid that attacks the teeth. Protect your baby from tooth decay by cleaning her first teeth after every feeding.

Things You'll Need

• Clean gauze pad
• Baby toothbrush (optional)
• Water

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Instructions

• 1

  Lay baby on your lap with his head toward you for easy access to his mouth.

• 2

  Wet a clean gauze pad or moisten a baby toothbrush with a small amount of water.

• 3

  Wrap the moistened gauze around your finger or grasp the baby toothbrush with your fingertips.

• 4

  Sing a song or say a rhyme to help baby relax and open her mouth.

• 5

  Rub baby's teeth with the gauze or toothbrush, starting from the front teeth and working back toward the molars.

• 6

  Wipe baby's gums and tongue with gauze.