“My baby is 7 months old and has 4 teeth. Should I use a brush to clean his teeth?”

THERE ARE TINY TOOTHBRUSHES FOR INFANT MOUTH CARE. THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS FOR SMALL BABIES. YOU WILL FIND THAT YOUR SON WILL WANT WHATEVER YOU ARE USING. SO, YOU SHOULD BUY A TOOTH CLEANING ITEM FOR YOUR SON TO HOLD. IF YOU FLOSS, I WOULD TAKE A SMALL SMALL PIECE OF FLOSS, DO NOT GIVE ANY FLOSS TO YOUR SON, YOU SHOULD TAKE THE FLOSS AND SLIDE IT GENTLY BETWEEN HIS TWO FRONT TEETH, YOU GENTLY SLIDE THE FLOSS ALONG SIDE ONE SIDE OF HIS TOOTH, YOU GENTLY SCRAPE THE AREA BELOW HIS GUM. YOU MOVE THE FLOSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TWO FRONT TEETH, YOU GENTLY GO DOWN AS FAR AS YOU CAN AND GENTLY SCRAPE. YOU THEN DO THE OUTER SIDE OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM TEETH. YOU CAN TAKE A GAUZE 2 X 2 AND GENTLY RUB FROM THE GUM LINE TO THE BITING EDGE. YOU DO THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP OF HIS TOOTH. DO THIS TOP AND BOTTOM TEETH. IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOUR SON TO GET USE TO SOMEONE CLEANING HIS TEETH. MORE THAN LIKELY YOUR CHILD IS TAKING VITAMINS WITH FLUORIDE. AS YOUR BABY GROWS, YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR BABY'S TEETH CHECKED BY A DENTIST AT AROUND A YEAR OLD. YOUR BABY'S DENTIST WILL JUST MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OKAY. THE MOST IMPORTANT WARNING FOR YOUR CHILD'S TEETH. AS YOUR CHILD IS GETTING OLDER, AT BEDTIME, ONLY PLACE WATER IN YOUR CHILD'S BOTTLE. GIVING YOUR BABY A BOTTLE FILLED WITH FORMULA, MILK, OR JUICE CAN SEVERELY DECAY YOUR BABY'S TEETH. FORMULA, MILK OR JUICE HAVE SUGARS IN THEM. THESE SUGARS STAY ON YOUR CHILD'S TEETH ALL NIGHT AND WILL DECAY YOUR CHILD'S TEETH. BABY BOTTLE DECAY, ETC. CAN DECAY ALL OF YOUR BABY'S TEETH. BABIES NEED THEIR TEETH FOR TALKING CORRECTLY AND EATING. HAVING TO TAKE AN INFANT TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE ALL TEETH WITH CAVITIES FIXED AT ONE TIME IS STRESSFUL FOR A BABY AND IS VERY EXPENSIVE. BECAUSE OF THE RISKS OF GENERAL ANESTHESIA, ALTHOUGH SMALL, ALL DENTAL WORK IS DONE AND THE THE HOSPITAL WILL WANT WHAT YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY, ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR PAYMENT. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE DENTAL INSURANCE, ALL DENTAL WORK WILL HAVE TO BE PRE-PAID BEFORE A HOSPITAL SCHEDULES THE APPOINTMENT. WE USE TO THINK THAT PEDIATRICIANS, OBGYN'S, HOSPITALS INSTRUCTED NEW MOTHERS ABOUT CARING FOR THEIR INFANT'S TEETH. ANYONE WHO CARES FOR AN INFANT SHOULD BE REMINDED ABOUT PUTTING A YOUNG CHILD TO BED WITH A BABY BODY FILLED WITH WATER ONLY.

Yes. Use a small toothbrush with soft or ultrasoft bristles.

Yes. I would use a toothbrush that is age-appropriate for his teeth. I would use a training toothpaste to start if your family does not have a history of cavities. If they have, I would go ahead and start with a rice-size amount of children's fluoride toothpaste.

Yes, absolutely clean those teeth! You want your baby growing up with an understanding that brushing AND flossing are important to good health.

You can but some children are easy to gag. You can wipe the teeth at least 2 times a day with a moist cloth

That's wonderful news! Absolutely brush the 4 teeth with a infant tooth brush. Just dip the brush in some water, then scrub. You may want to use a gauze pad to massage and wipe the gums and the inside of the cheeks, too (a brush may be too harsh in these other areas).

Yes. They have special brushes for babies. The bristles are soft enough not to hurt the gums but firm enough to keep those teeth clean and healthy. The earlier you start brushing your babies teeth the easier it will be. Do not use any toothpaste at this age, simply use a wet brush to remove any debris. Brush his teeth every night before bedtime and after his last feeding/bottle. Never let your baby go to bed with a bottle.

Yes, it is recommended to begin brushing the teeth twice daily (morning and night) as soon as the first teeth come in. There are a variety of products from toothbrushes for infants to bristled finger brushes that fit over your finger. I recommend a small brush designed for infants/toddlers. Begin brushing with just water on the bristles. As he gets older, at 12 months or so (he'll have about 12 teeth then) you can start using a fluoride free "baby toothpaste." Fluoride free toothpaste should be used rather than fluoride toothpaste (unless otherwise directed by your pediatric dentist) until your child has learned to spit (around 18mo-2yrs). Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking your child to see a dentist by 12mo old. Pediatric Dentists have 2 years of specialized training specifically in treating children. You can go to http://www.aapd.org/ to find a pediatric dentist near you.

You should start using a toothbrush as soon as the first tooth erupts into the mouth. Any kids soft bristle toothbrush will do. Start by brushing with just a wet toothbrush and work your way up to using a child friendly toothpaste.

Yes, you want to get him use to the routine of brushing. No need for toothpaste to start. You can use training toothpaste if you want. But save children's toothpaste with fluoride until your child is able to spit it out.