When Do Babies Get Their First Teeth – Everything You Need To Know

You love your baby’s adorable toothless grin; nothing to take off the stress of the entire day, right? Well, before you realize, this toothless grin will be gone and you will see a pearly white grinning at you.

Sprouting the first tooth will be a major milestone for your baby, as well as an awesome experience for you! But, when do babies get teeth? Find here.

When Do Babies Get Their First Teeth?

Most babies get their first tooth around their 6 month, while some may get it even earlier. In some rare cases, babies are born with a tooth! If your baby hasn’t grown a first tooth till 18 months, don’t panic. It is perfectly fine too. By the time your baby is 3 years, you will see about 20 little whites.

Your baby may go through a rough phase of teething, where it can get extremely painful before the first tooth pops out. On the other hand, the growth may be so easy that you won’t even know it till you see the tooth. As again, these developmental milestones can happen differently in different babies, so do not panic or get anxious. Read to know at what age do babies start teething

a. Oral Healthcare For Your Baby:

Oral Healthcare of your baby begins during your pregnancy. So ensure you have a dental check-up and follow a good dental care regime even while pregnant.

• For your baby, oral healthcare starts even before your baby springs out that first tooth.
• Healthy baby teeth are vital for chewing and developing clear speech.
• At around 1 year of age, speak to your pediatrician in your regular visit and check if you need to visit a pediatric dentist.

b. Steps To Follow Before Baby’s First Tooth Sprouts:

It’s best to start having your baby’s mouth cleaned from an early stage. It will be an easy transition for your baby into the habit of regularly brushing teeth.

• Clean the insides of the mouth, tongue and gums with a clean wet washcloth at room temperature water.
• Ensure your baby does not drink any of the tap water.
• You can also purchase a readily available finger silicone brush to clean the mouth, tongue and gums.
• Avoid putting your baby to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice in her mouth as this could lead to tooth decay.

c. Once The First Two Teeth Sprout:

Once your baby has her first two teeth, continue doing the above, twice a day.

• You can also start flossing once she has two teeth, but ensure this is done very carefully.
• Help your baby brush her teeth, till she is old enough to hold and brush by herself.
• Continue to supervise, till your baby can brush, spit and rinse independently.
• You can introduce your baby to pea-sized toothpaste around 1 year of age, post recommendation from your pediatric dentist.

Factors To Keep In Mind While Choosing A Toothpaste:

At 1 year of age, your baby will not know how to spit out toothpaste. Therefore it is essential to keep the below factors in mind while choosing the toothpaste:

1. Fluoride:

Most adult toothpastes have fluoride, which helps in fighting cavities. It is best to use non-fluoride toothpaste till your child is 4 years of age.

• As kids don’t tend to spit out the toothpaste it can get ingested into their system.
• Fluoride can cause staining in your kid’s teeth when not spat out properly. Therefore, unless recommended by your pediatric dentist, look for non-fluoride toothpaste.
• Continue using non-fluoride toothpaste till your kid is 4years old or learns to rinse and spit out toothpaste properly, whichever is earlier.
• Some brands which sell non-fluoride toothpaste include Chicco, Pigeon and MeeMee.

2. Flavor and Color:

Kids’ toothpastes are made with unique flavor and color.

• Most of these come in attractive flavors and colors.
• You may need a couple of trials before your kid chooses a favorite.
• Keep a watch while your kid uses this, as sometimes, the flavors may feel tempting enough to eat instead of spit out.

3. SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate):

SLS in toothpastes provide the foamy texture you see while brushing.

• If your kid uses toothpaste with SLS in it, it can cause mouth ulcers.
• Steer away from choosing toothpaste with SLS for your kid.

It is also highly recommended by dentists to change your kids’ toothpaste when one tube is over. Frequent use of the same toothpaste can cause the bacteria to get used to it and thus become more resistant.

Brushing The Right Way:

Once you get your baby to start brushing, remember to take care of the following:

1. Toothbrush:

Training brushes are readily available in the market for babies starting from 6 months of age.

• Look for soft bristle brushes with a long handle for kids above 1 year of age.
• Ensure the head of the toothbrush is rounded on the edge so that it does not hurt your kids’ tender gums.
• Hold your baby’s hand and train how to brush.
• If you are using toothpaste for your kid, only use a pea-sized amount.
• Run your baby’s toothbrush and handle under water before and after brushing.
• Replace your baby’s toothbrush regularly, i.e., once every 3-4 months.
• Store the toothbrush upright and open to avoid bacteria formation.

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