Baby Dental Hygiene Essentials

When those little teeth start to appear, it’s time to take a lesson in baby dental hygiene. So what do you need to know about baby teethers, toothbrushes and wipes? We explore dental hygiene for babies in-depth so you can ensure your little one grows up with happy, healthy teeth.

When should my baby start using teethers?

Teething is a time that many parents fear – after all, you’ve probably heard the horror stories of upset, irritable babies who are always rubbing their gums in pain. The good news is that it’s not a 24/7 problem, and most of the time you can calm your baby’s teething reactions with a simple massage or some teething toys.

Remember that teething doesn’t start when you first spot a tooth – it happens a lot earlier than that! If your baby is rubbing their cheek constantly, pulling on their ear or mouthing on objects while upset, these are common signs that they are feeling the effects of teething. So now is a good time to give them some pain relief – or just a new distraction – with teethers!

What type of teethers should they use?

 There are lots of different ways you can help your baby through their teething months. A cold washer straight from the fridge is always fun for them to suck and chew on. Likewise, you can pick up baby teething rusks and sugar-free teething biscuits from the grocery shops to give them something to distract them and also fill their belly. Make sure you follow the age guidelines (generally six months and over).

It’s also wise to buy some specially designed teething toys. Make sure they are colourful, interesting and comfortable to pop into your baby’s mouth. Our Training Teether Step 1 aids your child’s oral development while giving them plenty of different touch sensations. When they are ready to move up to the Training Teether Step 2, it will stimulate their periodontal ligaments, which act as sensors for hardness, texture and elasticity.

What are baby wipes for teeth?

Ever tried to give your baby pain or fever relief via an oral syringe? Then you already know how hard it can be to put foreign objects in their mouth! Moving from baby teethers to an actual baby toothbrush can be challenging, which is why baby wipes can be a good compromise. Not only are baby wipes clinically proven to decrease cavity-causing bacteria in your baby’s mouth, but they are much gentler than a toothbrush and easy to dispose of. Plus, there’s no need for toothpaste!

With Baby Tooth & Gum Wipes, simply place the wipe over your finger and rub it over your child’s gums. The wipes are made from food-grade ingredients, come in sterilised individual sachets and contain no alcohol, colouring or preservatives.

When to start using baby’s first toothbrush

When those teeth are finally coming through, it’s time to move up to a real toothbrush for babies. It might be slow going at first, but making the toothbrush fun can help immensely. Using a toothbrush from a young age means your baby will grow up with good teeth-cleaning habits. This will ensure their teeth and gums stay healthy throughout their oral development, and visits to the dentist may not be so scary!

Our Training Toothbrush Set is a three-step toothbrush system that matches your baby’s oral development as their teeth grow. The first stage introduces the concept of holding a toothbrush, step two is the perfect way to familiarise them with the brushing motion, while the final step gets them ready for their first toothbrush and toothpaste when most of their milk teeth are in.

For more tips and advice, check out our helpful Baby Hub blog. You can also find exceptional products for breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, oral care and more at our online store.