What to do now that my bub has teeth?
My gorgeous baby Charlotte now has 3 teeth... so i thought i should see when we need to start brushing these little gems that have caused my bub lots of grief (and mum too)... so went googling and found this great article courtesy of babycentre.com.au:
How should I care for my baby's teeth?
Once your baby's teeth arrive, it's up to you to keep them clean. It's best to start brushing your baby's teeth as soon as they start to come through with a soft moist cloth or soft toothbrush. From 18 months of age continue to use a soft toothbrush with a pea size amount of low-flouride toothpaste (NSW H, 2009).
Once your baby has teeth, try not to put him to bed with a bottle. Formula can pool in your baby's mouth at night and lead to tooth decay. Older babies can also get tooth decay from breastfeeding continuously and frequently at night after they have cut teeth. You can avoid this by detaching your baby from your nipple when the feed is finished(CYH, 2011b.).
In most areas of Australia fluoride is added to drinking water, but in some areas the water isn't fluoridated or you may use tank water as your water supply. Your local water supplier should be able to tell you how much fluoride is in your drinking water. Fluoride supplements are no longer recommended but if your water does not have fluoride added your child should use a small amount of adult fluoride toothpaste from 12 months(NSW H, 2009).
Make brushing your baby's teeth a fun part of his bedtime routine. Show him how to move the brush around on his teeth. Use a soft baby toothbrush and a smear of low-flouride toothpaste from 18 months. Low-flouride toothpaste should be used until he is 7 years old(NSW H, 2009). Try to clean the surface of each tooth and his gumline.
If your baby doesn't like the taste of the toothpaste, try another brand. If he does indulge in sweets, at a birthday party for example, make sure to brush his teeth soon after he eats. You can also encourage him to finish up with something savoury such as a piece of cheese.
It's a good idea to take your baby along to your own dentist appointments as soon as you can. This will help him to get used to the idea of having his teeth looked at(BDHF 2010).
http://www.babycenter.com.au/a6574/developmental-milestones-teething#section4#ixzz2usCXg6uN