From what age does my baby need a tooth brush ?

1. Why is it important to brush your baby’s teeth?
2. From what age should you brush your baby’s teeth?
3. What type of toothbrush for your baby?
4. What type of toothpaste for brushing your baby’s teeth?
5. When should you see a dentist for your baby?

Unsurprisingly, brushing your baby’s teeth daily prevents dental plaque building up and therefore the development of bacteria which cause cavities.

Tooth brushing is more important at the earliest age as your little one’s milk teeth are more vulnerable. The layer of enamel covering them is thinner, and bacteria can attack it more easily. Your child also spends a lot of time sleeping and saliva production which is usually protective, is significantly decreased during that time. It is therefore essential to take care of your baby’s milk teeth from the earliest age, as the condition of the permanent teeth depends on how you take care of the milk teeth. If your baby has cavities from the earliest age, they will be more likely to get them easily throughout their life.

Without necessarily using an actual toothbrush (since your baby doesn’t have teeth), we recommend cleaning the inside of their mouth from birth.

• When?
  After each meal

• How?
  By cleaning the gums with a clean, soft and damp cloth (like a compress)

• For how long?
  Until their first tooth arrives

Baby’s first tooth usually comes through at around 6 months! For all that, it is not yet time to use a real toothbrush!

Brushing between 6 months and 1 or 2 years

We recommend a silicone toothbrush with small bristles. They are really useful for preventing cavities! It’s not because your baby only has a few teeth that the sugar in milk cannot damage them. We call that baby bottle tooth decay! They can also occur more often during food diversification!

You will need a solution to relieve your baby’s pain, such as the formula with 100% natural, certified organic active ingredients: Calmosine Soothing Teething Gel! Its soothing and emollient effect decreases discomfort caused by teething and facilitates eruption of the first teeth.

Brushing from 1 or 2 years

For your baby’s first REAL toothbrush, choose:
• Soft bristles which reach between the teeth without hurting the gums or causing them to bleed.
• A brush with a small head to reach easily into all areas of the mouth.

Remember to replace it regularly as soon as the bristles start to look like a palm tree.

It is recommended brushing the teeth in the evening preferably. Remember that at night, saliva production decreases which encourages bacterial substances to attack your baby’s milk teeth.

According to the official recommendations by the UFSBD (Union Française de la Santé Bucco-Dentaire), the type of toothpaste to use is different according to age. It is important to choose a toothpaste suitable for milk teeth for little ones. Certified organic, the Biolane 2-in-1 first teeth toothpaste gently cleans your baby’s milk teeth and soothes gums sensitised by teething.

What is important is the quantity of fluoride, which prevents cavities by making the enamel less sensitive to acid attacks from foods.

The quantity of fluoride is measured in ppm (parts per million) and it is stated on the tube.

Baby toothpaste from 2 to 3 years

Toothpastes with a fluoride content less than or equal to 500 ppm, with only a small amount on the toothbrush head. At that age, it is recommended brushing the teeth twice a day. Even if the child shows signs of wanting to do it themselves, make sure you finish the job properly.

Baby toothpaste from 3 years

Fluoride-containing toothpastes with 500 ppm fluoride must be preferred.

Baby toothpaste from 6 years

Toothpastes containing a quantity of fluoride between 1,000 and 1,500 ppm are recommended.

To make tooth brushing a pleasant moment, always use toothpastes with a mild composition and pleasant taste.

To begin with, it is necessary to help the child to brush their teeth. This will make it a bonding moment. Then little by little you can give them some tips.
Before the age of 6, there is the 1-2-3-4 method which consists in brushing the teeth:
1. Bottom left
2. Bottom right
3. Top right
4. Top left

When your child is older and more independent, forget the 1-2-3-4 method and ensure they adopt a longer tooth brushing method, as recommended by dentists.

Like you, your baby should take a trip to the dentist’s on a regular basis (once a year from the age of 1 year, when they have almost all their teeth). At the same time, it is important to ensure they have good daily oral and dental hygiene and they adopt good habits:

• No drinks or foods with high sugar content to prevent cavities
  As far as possible, watch your baby to ensure they don’t put too many things in their mouth to prevent unwanted bacteria
  Avoid using the same spoon to taste your baby’s food and feed them for hygiene reasons

With all this information, you are well armed to look after your baby’s teeth in the best possible way. Of course, if in doubt as to the choice of the best toothbrush or the best toothpaste, ask your paediatrician, pharmacist or dentist for advice!