Pro tips on caring for your baby’s oral health
In this short video, enjoy the expert advice from the Australian Dental Association about looking after your baby’s teeth, gums, and mouth.
The full transcription of this video is provided below.
Transcript
Protect the teeth of your babies and young children with these pro tips from the Australian Dental Association.
- Clean your baby’s gums using a clean, damp wash cloth.
- Introduce a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles around the time your baby’s teeth start to appear. Brush the teeth with water, not toothpaste.
- At 18 months, introduce a child-strength fluoride toothpaste when brushing.
- Continue to use this toothpaste until six years of age unless a dentist recommends otherwise.
- Begin flossing your child’s teeth once they have at least two teeth that touch side by side. This is often around age two.
- Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle filled with milk or juice, or dip their pacifier in sweet pastes such as jam or honey. This increases their risk of developing tooth decay.
- Your baby’s first visit to the dentist should be when their first tooth appears or by the age of one.
- And do not forget to brush twice each day and floss at least once daily.
- And visit your dentist regularly to prevent problems and keep on smiling.
This video was produced by the Australian Dental Association.
