The famous saying “prevention is better than cure” is increasingly present these days and the oral hygiene of little ones is a topic that should not be forgotten.

In this article, Dentist Marta Simões Vieira shares some good practices and tips so that oral hygiene is introduced into the routines of little ones from an early age.

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When the baby does not yet have teeth, it is not necessary to thoroughly clean the oral cavity. Just use a compress soaked in water to clean the milk that is “stuck” to the gums.

As we get closer to teeth erupting, we can start using a silicone finger to massage the gums . Your baby will thank you so much!

From the moment the tooth erupts, we should start using a toothbrush and paste, twice a day (in the morning and before going to sleep). No water is needed before or after. This way, we can ensure that the fluoride continues to do its job and that it is not removed with the water at the end.

The toothpaste we should use for our babies should have a concentration of 1000ppm of fluoride, adapting the amount depending on their age:

• up to 3 years old - 1/2 raw rice berry
• between 3 and 6 years old - 1 bag of raw rice
• over 6 years old - size of the little finger nail

The brush should have a small head, soft bristles and a thin neck.

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In short: to take the best possible care of your child's oral hygiene, assess the stage of development they are in and adopt appropriate care:

	Baby without teeth Compress soaked in water when there is regurgitation of milk or it is "stuck" in the gums.
When we start to notice that teeth will start to erupt Use silicone finger pads without paste.
	As soon as the 1st tooth emerges and until the baby teeth are complete (20 teeth in total) Use a brush with soft bristles, a small head, a thin neck and a round handle. From the moment the baby teeth are complete until the emergence of permanent teeth (+/- 6 years) The toothbrush should have a small head, but with more tufts than the previous brush, soft bristles, a thin and long neck to reach all the teeth and the handle should be adapted to the size of the child's hand.
From 6 years old (mixed dentition) The bristles must continue to be soft, the head and handle must also be adapted to the child's age to reach all teeth with new shapes and sizes.

Never forget that each child is different and must be evaluated individually by your dentist!

Author: Marta Simões Vieira - Dentist