The very first tooth is one huge milestone. Other than being a milestone it’s a relief for both parents and babies, whenever that first pearly white erupts, because they have both been enduring the discomfort of teething. However, a baby’s first tooth can bring extra responsibility to pay attention to the right dental maintenance, starting at a young age. It’s always a good idea to get your child customized to the process of teeth brushing and to utilizing a toothbrush and toothpaste, so then it can be easier for it to become a part of your routine and be one less battle throughout the toddler years.

When Should You Start Brushing Your Baby’s Teeth?

Generally speaking, the incorporation of proper oral care habits should be done prior to the eruption of the first tooth. As per the American Dental Association, commonly referred to as ADA, caregivers or parents should commence cleaning the baby’s teeth and oral cavity within a few days of birth, with the use of a clean damp washcloth or moistened gauze pad.

Yet, after the baby’s teeth start appearing, there should be implemented a toothpaste that contains fluoride in it, according to the ADA. The baby must additionally have their first dental visit once the first tooth cuts through, or at least by the time they turn one year old.

How Should I Start Brushing My Baby’s Teeth?

With the eruption of the first teeth, knowing the proper way to brush your baby’s teeth isn’t all that easy. Here’s what Dr. Roland Zhuka tells his patients:

You can start using a damp and clean washcloth to wipe off your baby’s teeth right after meals. This is similarly efficacious to brushing, whilst the bay is still on formula or nursing. Such action will impede baby bottle tooth decay.

It is to be noted that babies tend to have quite sensitive gag reflexes. To avoid such, do not- we repeat- do not brush the baby’s teeth while they are lying down. Make it a fun and consistent process.

Does My Baby Need Toothpaste?

The quick answer is indeed. Once the teeth start appearing, so does the risk of cavities. The ADA, alongside the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), advises parents to begin to use toothpaste that contains fluoride as soon as the first tooth erupts.

According to the AAP, this is because among the most chronic childhood conditions in the world is dental caries, the old nomination for cavities.

The implementation of fluoride toothpaste can serve as a preventive measure for the reduction of the risk of cavities forming. Just keep in mind to use a tiny smear of toothpaste until the age of 3, and then a pea-sized amount from the age of 3 to 6.

What Ingredients Should I Avoid In Baby Toothpaste?

Baby toothpaste tends to be a little different from the conventional toothpaste that most adults and children use. It’s a well-known fact that babies and toddlers don’t precisely know how to spit, and conventional types of toothpaste contain substances that are not intended for consumption.

The majority of baby toothpaste is made in such a way as to be safe even when swallowed. Remember that you might come across conflicting information, with many experts still claiming that parents should avoid toothpaste that contains fluoride for infants and toddlers.

Yet, there do exist several substances that must be avoided at any cost, namely:

• sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
• essential oils
• harsh, abrasive ingredients

SLS is a detergent that has been proven to lead to canker sores. Ultimately, abrasive substances found normally in whitening toothpaste geared toward grown-ups should be absolutely avoided. These substances can harm the enamel on your kid’s teeth.

More In Detail- Ingredients To Avoid In Baby Toothpaste

Fluoride

Is fluoride harmful to you? There’s a high possibility, particularly for kids. Ingested fluoride is extremely toxic, so it can have an effect on your baby’s developing brain. And in spite of the common belief that fluoride toothpaste is needed to prevent cavities, that isn’t necessarily true. There are safer and more secure ways to accomplish that. Keep on reading for more tips on how to prevent cavities.

SLS

Sodium lauryl sulfate, referred to as SLS is a prevalent substance in toothpaste. As above mentioned, it is a potent detergent that has proven to be the cause of canker sore outbreaks. There is obviously no need to expose the baby’s fragile mouth to harsh chemicals like SLS.

Essential Oils

Several “all-natural” toothpastes have essential oils in them that take the role of an antibacterial agent. This however can kill off the oral microbiome that is required to be built in order to prevent cavities in your baby’s mouth.

What To Look For In Baby Toothpaste?

Thus, what would you keep as a priority when shopping for baby toothpaste? It is all dependent on whether you want to adhere to the ADA and AAP recommendations. If the answer is yes, then you should thoroughly prioritize a toothpaste that contains fluoride. 

However, most of the baby toothpastes are fluoride-free. Therefore, if you are worried about that, have a discussion with your dentist or pediatrician about whether fluoride is a requirement. Other than fluoride, pay attention to the following elements:

Safe To Swallow

As noted previously, babies have yet to learn how to purposely spit. Hence, a safe-if-swallowed toothpaste is needed. Several baby toothpastes are customized keeping this feature as a priority.

Flavor

In comparison with adult toothpaste, you will grow to find out that mint-flavored toothpaste isn’t all that common in baby toothpaste. This is seen as babies have the tendency to prefer gentler flavors and might find stronger flavors like mint way too intense and harsh. 

How We Chose Our Favorite Baby Toothpaste

The whole process of choosing a baby toothpaste shouldn’t tax your brain all too much, but it might need a bit of trial and error depending on the flavor picked and whether your baby is a fan of it or not.

To help you make the right selection we say you focus mainly on whether the brand contains fluoride, what type of flavor the toothpaste has, and ultimately, read reviews or testimonials from real parents.

How To Choose Exactly?

As already stated a couple of times in this article, choosing the proper toothpaste to maintain a bright and white smile for your child can be a bit overwhelming. However, if you reach for most training toothpaste during the early stages, all is well. Yet, you might have to bear in mind the below factors.

Age Range

The majority of baby toothpastes will compile a list of advised age ranges. Remember that until the first tooth of your baby erupts there isn’t really a need for a toothpaste. You can easily get away with simply wiping their gums with a moistened washcloth.

Once the baby has teeth, however, typically by the time he/ she reaches 6 months old, it is the right time to introduce them to the toothpaste and brushing teeth world. Yet, do be mindful about the age range listed on the toothpaste tube, since most brands do provide a recommended age.

Safe To Swallow

During the early stages, particularly, babies aren’t fully developed to spit on purpose, so of course, they cannot spit out toothpaste. Therefore, toothpaste is required to be safe to swallow. In many instances, this implies a fluoride-free option. This is due to the fact that even though ADA advises on fluoride for everyone, the ingestion of too much fluoride can lead to an upset stomach and consequently to fluorosis- which is an oral condition that despite not being dangerous can cause white spots on the child’s teeth.

Cost To Value

As insinuated, baby toothpaste can range highly in price. Thus, you will need to pick one that is cost-effective for you- particularly if you have decided on buying single tubes rather than multi-packs.

Kits vs. Tubes

Just like cost to value, do step back a little to think about whether you would like to buy a dental kit, an individual, or a multipack set of toothpaste. Kits can be a great alternative considering they contain both a child-safe toothbrush and a toothpaste. But they do tend to have a higher price. The ADA recommendation is to change toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months.

Conclusion On The Best Baby Toothpaste

Summing up, when picking toothpaste for your child, keep an eye out for SLS, fluoride, and the majority of essential oils. If it feels right for your family you can skip the toothpaste altogether. The only essential thing is that you are brushing your baby’s teeth. Try to keep it a fun and positive process. Do not worry about whether your child is a good brusher or not. The key element is keeping your child’s experience with dental care a positive one. Choose a non-toxic and safe option so your baby can thrive. 

Thinking of bringing your baby in for a check-up? Do go ahead. Bring your little one on their very first dental visit at Dr. Roland Zhuka’s dental clinic. He will make sure to do a check-up, and cleaning and ensure that the baby’s teeth are developing appropriately. He will also give insightful advice and recommendations on properly caring for your baby’s teeth.

FAQs

How Can I Get My Kid To Like Brushing Their Teeth?

The whole process of encouraging a want and love for teeth brushing can be complicated. Therefore, experts advise on getting them started early. Even prior to the first baby’s tooth sprouting, make sure to set a habit of wiping off their tiny gums after each meal. Furthermore, introduce tooth brushing while those pearly whites appear. 

With aging, keep on supervising as they start to brush their own teeth. Try to turn it into a game and ensure that you are spending enough time doing so: the recommended time for a complete mouth of teeth is two minutes.

Is Adult Toothpaste Safe For Children?

Theoretically, adult toothpaste can be utilized to brush your kid’s teeth, but there is always the worry of him/ her swallowing it. This is due to the fact that adult toothpaste more often than not contains fluoride. And whenever swallowed, fluoride can lead to an upset stomach, and in the event it gets ingested in bigger amounts, fluorosis. 

However, considering that the ADA does advise all people, children included, to use fluoride toothpaste, you can use regular toothpaste in extremely small amounts to brush your kid’s chompers.

Bear in mind that the majority of babies and toddlers dislike the very strong mint flavors generally found in adult toothpaste. Thus, using baby-friendly and safe-to-swallow toothpaste with a light flavor might be a much better alternative to introduce and encourage a want to brush their teeth.

When Can My Kid Use Adult Toothpaste?

Typically, after your child has been taught not to swallow toothpaste, they can transition to adult toothpaste, which has the tendency to contain fluoride. In reality, however, it might take a longer time to wean a child off of the nicer and tastier kid’s toothpaste that has fruit flavors or bubble gum in it and switch to a more conventional mint-flavored adult alternative.