Teething & Soothing

How much time have you spent thinking about baby teeth? You might think that baby teeth aren’t important, but they play a vital role in the development of your child’s speech, nutrition and jaw structure.  

As a parent, you should know the best ways to take care of you baby’s teeth. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got you.  

In this blog we’ll go over some effective ways to look after their teeth, to keep them healthy and strong.  

When do babies start teething?

No two babies are the same, so there’s no exact date when your child will start teething. Generally, most children will start teething and growing their first teeth at around 6 months of age. Most will have all 20 of their milk teeth (also called baby teeth, primary teeth or if you’re feeling fancy, deciduous teeth) by the time they’re 2 ½ to 3 years old.  

Did you know that your baby’s teeth started developing in early pregnancy (from around 8 weeks). Occasionally, teeth can even be present at birth (natal teeth) or shortly after birth (neonatal teeth).  

While present in less than 1% of babies, these teeth sometimes require removal, as they pose a risk of inhalation and feeding interruption. A paediatric specialist can advise you if treatment is required.  

If your child’s teeth are taking a little longer than expected to grow in, don’t worry.  

Dr Emi Mawson says that "the age at which teeth erupt vary a lot between children, but actually, the age at which the teeth come through is not so important. What is important is the order they come through.”  

Use the list we’ve created above as a guide. If your baby’s teeth grow in a different order, it’s worth letting your dentist know, as this can indicate a possible problem like congenitally (inherited) missing teeth, or a wider health condition.  

Your baby’s first teeth may look small (and though they’re eventually replaced), but they’re still important. Their milk teeth will act as placeholders for adult teeth, helping them to chew and smile. Those little teeth are also vital for speech development and help your baby to produce sounds like "l", "th", and "sh". 

If they aren't properly cared for, their teeth can decay, leading to pain and infection that could potentially affect the spacing and the health of permanent teeth in later life. 

How to care for your baby’s gums when teething 

You should care for your baby’s gums from the get-go, even before their teeth appear.  They’ll get used to having their mouth cleaned, making it easier to introduce toothbrushing once their teeth arrive.  

You can do this by wiping down their gums with a firm, but gentle pressure, at least twice a day. We’d recommend using either a clean piece of gauze, a moistened washcloth, or a specially designed rubber finger brush.  

Plaque can still exist in a baby’s mouth, even before their teeth grow in, so this baby-care step is particularly important after feeds and before bedtime. If bacteria is left to build up, it might potentially harm their delicate gums and tiny new teeth when they do come through.  

How to care for baby teeth 

So, the question is, what can you do to care for your little one's teeth once they appear? 

Everyday habits that you do at home form the foundation for a healthy set of teeth. As soon as their teeth start to appear through their gums, you should begin brushing your child’s teeth morning and night.  

Our biggest tip? Never forget to brush their teeth before bed. Tooth decay will most likely develop during sleep, due to a drop in our saliva production. It will take time for them to get used to this new step in their daily routine (so don’t lose faith!). If you’re gentle, your perseverance will pay off.   

Dr Emi Mawson has a great tip; "it can be tricky to brush your baby's teeth, so try letting them hold and chew on one toothbrush while you use another to brush the teeth". 

How to brush baby teeth 

If you’re unsure how to get started, we’ve got you.  

To get started:  

• Use a baby toothbrush with a small head and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste (that’s made for babies).  

• Cover the whole surface of the toothbrush (thinly) with the toothpaste. 

• Brush their teeth in small circles, gently.  

• Encourage your child to spit the toothpaste out afterwards.  

If your baby tries to resist getting their teeth brushed, there a couple of tips and tricks that can help: 

• Try sitting your baby on your lap, facing away from you, to make it easier to reach their teeth. 

• Your baby’s gums are delicate, so buy a soft bristle toothbrush and try soaking it in warm water for a few minutes before brushing.  

• This one may sound obvious, but talking to your child as you brush for added reassurance, can do wonders! 

Remember to replace their toothbrush every three months or as soon as it shows signs of wear, and never share a toothbrush with others. Once they’re a little older, you should aim for the desired 2-minute brush.  

Don’t worry, we’ve got some advice to help get you there:

• A good, old fashioned egg timer is a great tool in your arsenal. Set the timer to 2 minutes and remind your child to keep brushing until the timer goes off (or all of the sand has travelled from the top to bottom).  

• Split the mouth into four sections, spending 30 seconds on each.  

• Try using a toothbrushing app like  Aquafresh Brush Time, Brush Teeth with The Wiggles or Brush DJ. 

• Pop on the  Hey Duggee toothbrushing song (but prepare for an earworm that lasts all day, it’s very catchy!)  

• Create a sticker reward chart and offer a small reward if they achieve a whole weeks' worth of brushing. 

• Let them choose their own, age-appropriate toothbrush, perhaps there's one in their favourite colour or superhero theme! 

Say no to sugar 

Once their first teeth grow in, and they start  weaning, they'll be able to enjoy a whole variety of food textures and flavours. As tasty as sugary foods are, it’s important to remember that enamel on a baby’s teeth is thinner than an adult’s, making them more vulnerable to cavities and decay.  

Try to minimise the amount of sugar in your child's diet, including meals, snacks, and drinks. If you can, look for sugar free versions of their preferred treats, and steer clear of sugary drinks and sweets. Don't worry if 'bad food' moments happen occasionally, but if you can, restrict giving sweet foods to mealtimes as this will reduce the damage to their teeth. 

Once your baby is old enough to drink anything other than milk, the best drink you can give them is water. 

Choose the right cup 

Try encouraging your child to sip from a  cup  as early as possible. Drinks flow very slowly through a bottle teat as they suck, so any sugary substance will be in contact with their teeth for longer, increasing the risk of tooth decay.  

Drinking from a cup not only reduces the chances of acid erosion and promotes healthy oral development, but it’ll also improve their hand eye co-ordination and help your child to feel independent.  

Take a trip to the dentist 

The dentist can seem like a daunting place, but it needn't be if you get them used to the idea early on! Ideally their first appointment should be before their first birthday. 

Lead by example and start taking them to the dentist with you whenever you have an appointment. This will give them more time to get used to their surroundings and any unfamiliar sights and sounds. Even getting your baby to open wide, so the dentist can look at their teeth, is a great first step. 

Try to make the idea of visiting the dentist fun! There are lots of great children's books and videos about going to the dentist and caring for your teeth (like Peppa Pig's Dentist Trip) that you could them before their first trip.  

Taking your baby to the dentist when their first tooth comes through, or by the age of one at the latest is recommended -  

It's important that you register them for their own regular dental check-ups to keep an eye on the development of their oral health.  

Your dentist can identify any oral health problems at an early stage, and they’ll also reassure you that you’re doing a good job when it comes to caring for your baby’s teeth. If you’re struggling, they can offer advice and support.