When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?

Doctor's Answers 1

Paediatric Dentistry Singapore

It is never too early to start toothbrushing!

I actually started brushing my child’s teeth when he only had gums! Starting even before teeth emerge can help babies to get used to the sensations of tooth cleaning early.

She may also feel a little “itch” near where the tooth is emerging - a common occurrence during the teething phase. A gentle scrub with a toothbrush may feel rather soothing and enjoyable for her.

Similar Questions

Should children have their milk teeth extracted to prevent permanent teeth from growing crooked?

May I know how old your little girl is? You are absolutely right. In most cases, the adult teeth will cause the milk teeth to be mobile and subsequently lost, making space for the adult teeth. In this photo, it looks like the two side adult teeth are erupted but the two front milk teeth are still present. My advice will be to seek an opinion from an orthodontist to check for the reason why this has happened BEFORE extacting the milk teeth. Sometimes it may be because two lower adult teeth are missing and in this case, you might want to keep the baby teeth for as long as possible.

Photo of Dr Sylvia Tan

Answered By

Dr Sylvia Tan

Orthodontist

Is it advisable to remove the milk teeth in a child to enable the adult tooth to grow out properly?

Thank you for your question. I would say that your child probably has a generalised delayed tooth eruption, but there is nothing to worry about for now yet. It’s a good sign that his lower front teeth have began to erupt! “Is it advisable to remove the milk teeth to enable the adult tooth to grow out properly? Or is it alright to wait for the milk teeth to fall out by itself. ” The lower adult teeth erupts naturally at a position behind that of the baby teeth. I assume based on your description that the adult teeth is just peeking through the gums (i. e.

Photo of Dr Joanne Lam

Answered By

Dr Joanne Lam

Dentist

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