BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

AUGUST 1, 2022

Your little one’s mouth is full of future milestones, and whether you’re waiting for their first smile, first baby tooth or first visit from the Tooth Fairy, now’s the time to brush up on dental care.  

Tiny teeth need love from the moment they start moving in to the gums, and if you’re not sure when to start brushing, flossing or putting out the Tooth Fairy money, read on!  

Dr Mikaela Chinotti is the Australian Dental Association's Oral Health Promoter and she’s here to answer parents’ big questions about baby teeth. 

1. “When will my baby get their teeth?” 

Baby teeth come when they’re ready, but as a guide, Dr Chinotti says, “Signs of teething can begin as early as three months of age, and teeth can start to push into the mouth as early as six months.” 

The bottom middle teeth are usually the first to arrive (cuteness alert!), and there are lots more where they came from.  

The top middle teeth often arrive between eight and 12 months, and you can expect all 20 baby teeth to have made an entrance by the time your tyke is three.  

2. “How can I soothe my teething baby?” 

Crankiness, drooling, gum-rubbing, biting and putting things in the mouth are all classic signs of teething, and Dr Chinotti says you can help by: 

• Giving your bub lots of affection, cuddles, and attention 
• Gently massaging their gums with the back of a cold spoon or a clean finger and wet cloth, and 
• Offering teething rusks, if your baby is over six months of age.  

 

She says, “You may be able to use pain relief medications, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, but, of course, always ask your dentist, doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice first.” 

3. “What do I do once the first tooth is through?” 

Once you’ve finished celebrating the arrival of that first cute tooth , it’s important to get down to the serious business of caring for it.  

Dr Chinotti says you need to start brushing your bub’s tooth (then teeth) as soon as they appear, however, “Up until 18 months of age, toothpaste isn’t needed at all. Just use water with a soft brush.”  

Sugary foods and drinks aren’t friendly for baby teeth, and don’t forget to make a date with the dentist!  

Dr Chinotti says, “Your bub’s first dental visit is recommended when their first tooth arrives in the mouth, or they turn one, whichever happens first,” and it’s important to remain vigilant.  

 “Tooth decay can begin developing from the time the first tooth appears in the mouth,” and a good way to keep an eye on things is to ‘lift the lip.’  

This sounds intense, but it actually just involves gently lifting your bub’s top lip and rolling down their bottom one, looking for spots on their teeth that won’t come off when you brush them (aka possible signs of tooth decay).  

4. “How do I care for my older child’s teeth?” 

It’s recommended that you brush your kiddo’s teeth, or help them do it, until they’re about eight or nine, because hand dexterity and their ability to control the toothbrush well takes time to develop.  

As part of a tandem approach, you should: 

• Brush their teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time. Use a children’s fluoride toothpaste between the age of 18 months and six years. You can also introduce a soft-bristled electric toothbrush from the age of three, if you like.
• Floss regularly. As soon as your child has two teeth sitting side by side (often around the age of two), start flossing between them once a day.  
• Limit sugar intake. Sweet treats can cause tooth decay, so stick to a nutritious diet, and watch out for sneaky sugar in things like cereal, yoghurt and juice.   
• Visit the dentist at least once a year. Cavities are a problem for lots of Aussie kids, but check-ups and preventative care help to keep teeth healthy. 

 

5. “When will my kiddo start losing teeth?” 

Baby teeth are also known as ‘deciduous teeth,’ and when they start to fall out, like autumn leaves, this name makes sense! 

Usually, the first teeth to come are the first to go – those cute bottom middle ones – and this happens around the age of six.  

Your child’s first adult molars start sprouting around this time, and all of their baby teeth will likely be pushed out by adult teeth by the age of 12-ish.  

Losing that first tooth can come as a shock, so make sure your kiddo knows that it’s totally normal for a tooth to come loose. 

Dr Chinotti says, “Once a baby tooth becomes wobbly, encourage them to move it more for the tooth to come out of the mouth. The adult tooth underneath is trying to push into the mouth and this wobbly tooth is staying in the road.” 

A visit by the Tooth Fairy should turn any frown upside down, and many other dental questions are answered at Teeth.org.au  

The Australian Dental Association’s website contains a brilliant line-up of oral health info for babies, children, mums-to-be and other grown-ups, and their Guardians of the Gums book makes dental care super appealing for early learners and older kids.  

Early learning services also care about oral health. 

Dental Health Week (held annually in the first week of August) provides a great chance to ‘talk teeth’ with under-fives, and some centres even offer dental check-ups through the year.   

Dental services like Grow Up Smiling in South Australia and Dental2U in Queensland visit child care centres to teach ages two and up about tooth care.