When Should You Start Brushing A Baby's Teeth? A Timeline for New AL Parents
Here's something nobody tells you at the baby shower: dental care starts way before you ever see a tooth . You're probably running on four hours of sleep, covered in some mystery substance, and wondering whether you need to worry about brushing gums that don't even have teeth yet. The short answer is yes, and the longer answer involves a timeline that most parents only discover after their pediatrician asks about oral care at a checkup. Around 40% of children have cavities by the time they reach kindergarten, which is a statistic that catches a lot of parents off guard. After all, baby teeth fall out anyway, right? But those tiny teeth play a bigger role than most people realize, and the habits you build now stick around long after the tooth fairy has made her last visit. Let's break down exactly when to start, what to use, and how to make brushing something your child tolerates instead of fights against. Why Baby Teeth Deserve Your Attention It's tempting to think ...