Tips for Caring for Your Baby's Teeth
According to the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry and the NHS:
- Breast feed if you can. This provides the best nutrition for babies.
- From six months of age introduce drinking from a free-flow cup and from age one year discourage feeding from a bottle.
- Don't add sugar to weaning foods or drinks.
- Once your baby is eating solid foods, choose healthy and nutritious foods and drinks, keeping sugary food and drinks to a minimum as sugar is the main cause of tooth decay.
- As soon as teeth erupt in your baby’s mouth, brush them twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste. Brush last thing at night and on one other occasion. Use toothpaste containing at least 1000 parts per million (ppm) fluoride and use only a smear of toothpaste.
- Avoid the use of dummies after 12 months of age. Dummies can cause an 'open bite' (the teeth move to make space for the dummy) and can affect speech and language development.
- Use sugar-free medicines
The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry have made this handy leaflet which has lots of useful information.