From the appearance of your baby’s first tooth, proper dental care is essential.

Stages of dental care
Between six months and a year, your baby’s first tooth will appear. When it does, you will need to keep her teeth healthy with gum and tooth cleaners designed for babies. By 12 months, your baby should have cut her first baby teeth. By 18 months, she may have her first molars and canine (longer teeth).

About toothbrushes and toothpastes
It’s never too early to teach your little one how to take care of his teeth. You will need a toothbrush with a small head, soft, rounded bristles and a thick, firm grip to prevent it from slipping. After two to four weeks, you should replace the toothbrush.

The NUK line of oral care products helps you care for your baby’s teeth and gums as well as offers relief from painful teething. Gum and toothbrushes are both functional and fun, so you can develop good habits early on. And all oral care products are BPA free.

There are special children’s toothpastes with either a minimal amount of fluoride or none at all. Toothpaste for adults should not be used until your child has started school.

Some tips on caring for baby’s new teeth
Baby teeth “reserve” places for your baby’s permanent adult teeth. That’s why it’s so important to make sure they stay healthy by:

• Brushing once a day with a baby toothbrush and toothpaste for children
• Hanging a small mirror at child’s eye level – this will not only motivate, but the teeth-cleaning will be more effective
• Teaching your child how to clean his or her teeth independently – but also thoroughly cleaning them yourself until your child is in first grade
• Not giving your little one a bottle in bed because the sugar from milk and juice can cause early tooth and gum decay
• Feeding natural food without added sugars and water instead of juice
• Making the first visit to the dentist a positive experience
• Setting a good example by brushing your teeth with your child

How to brush teeth
One method for brushing is called the “COI Technique.”

1. Chewing surface:
   • Place the head of the brush on the surface and then simply move back and forth.
   • Your child will soon master this scrubbing action.
2. Outer surfaces:
   • With the brush in a horizontal position and the teeth together, start with the molar furthest back and, with a circular motion, brush the upper and lower rows of teeth, gradually working towards the front.
   • On reaching the front teeth, the child must turn the brush around, then continuing along the other side in a similar fashion right to the back.
3. Inner surfaces:
   • Clean these surfaces with a circular motion or using strokes, working from the gums to the crown.
   • Although this may initially be difficult, it is also a case of “practice makes perfect.”