Baby teeth require immediate attention as soon as they first appear in the mouth. You must get to work the day you notice that first tiny tooth emerge. It is a good idea to work on your child’s oral care regularly to get the baby used to the idea and avoid problems later on. Your baby's first tooth will most likely be a bottom front one, appearing when he's about six months old. You will eventually have all 20 baby teeth in place by the time your little one is about two and a half years old. Here are some dental care tips that can teach you how to care for your baby’s teeth.

Baby’s First Brush and Toothpaste
To begin with, you must clean your baby's teeth by wrapping your finger around a piece of clean washcloth. Now put a tiny smear of the best toothpaste in India - Babool on it and rub around your baby's teeth. Next, you should progress to using kid’s toothbrush that is soft, has round-ended bristles of differing lengths, and a small, angled head. This will allow you to reach all parts of your baby's mouth easily and comfortably. Kids toothbrushes are usually safe to use and do not injure the gums. Replace your baby's toothbrush after three months or sooner if the bristles have started to spread out.

Methods of Teeth-Cleaning
The most important dental care tip is to ensure that your baby’s teeth are brushed at least twice a day. The first brushing session should be scheduled before the baby eats or drinks anything and the last, after he has finished with his last feed of the day. When you prepare for your baby’s brushing session, remember to apply a thin film of toothpaste to the brush. It should cover less than three-quarters of the bristles. Brush with small, circular movements, concentrating on the area where the teeth and gums meet. Make sure you brush very gently as the baby’s gums are very tender, especially during teething. When you've finished, make sure your baby spits out the toothpaste, but don't rinse his mouth with lots of water. Brush your baby’s teeth with him sitting on you, facing away from you.

Protect Baby Teeth
To really give your child the healthiest teeth, you should also:

• Reduce the sugar content in the feeds that your baby takes, as drinks/food high in sugar can cause tooth decay if consumed throughout the day. Make the child rinses his/her mouth after eating or drinking anything.
• Only offer either breast milk or formula milk, or cooled, boiled water as drinks for your baby. Avoid squashes, fruit juices, flavoured milk and fizzy drinks.
• Discourage your baby from drinking from a baby bottle as soon as he can sit up and drink from a cup. Once your baby is more than a year old only give him water to drink at bedtime.
• Make sure your baby eats a calcium rich and balanced diet.

Hygiene goes a long way in ensuring that your child has no troubles related to his oral health. Follow these dental care tips and a strict routine and care for your toddler’s teeth till he is grown up enough to take responsibility for his smile!

Maintaining proper oral hygiene and using the right toothpaste plays a vital role in keeping dental problems such as plaque, gingivitis, tartar and tooth decay away. Visit our blog to know more about dental care and following an oral care routine to keep teeth strong and healthy