How do I care for my baby's new teeth?

Run a soft, clean cloth over your baby's gums twice a day. Do this after the morning feeding and before bed. The cleansing can keep food debris, sugars, and germs from building up in your baby's mouth.

When your baby's first teeth appear, use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the teeth twice a day. You can start using a toothpaste containing fluoride, but only use an amount that's about the size of a grain of rice.

Once the first tooth comes in, ask your baby's dentist or healthcare professional if your child's teeth would benefit from a dental product called fluoride varnish. This is a higher concentration of fluoride applied by a healthcare professional.

Until your child is good at spitting out extra toothpaste, continue using an amount that's about the size of a grain of rice. Once your child can spit, you can use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

Be sure to schedule your child's first dental visit at or near your child's first birthday. At this visit the dentist likely will:

• Tell you about tooth-healthy foods.
• Show you how to brush and the amount of toothpaste to use.
• Talk about preventing tooth trauma from things such as falls as your little one starts to walk.
• Talk with you about pacifier use or finger sucking.
• Ask how teething is going and offer recommendations.
• Check your baby's mouth to make sure it's healthy.

Remember, regular dental care during childhood helps start a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.