It might feel strange to think about brushing your baby's teeth when there aren't yet teeth to brush. But early oral care is so important. See what these experienced moms and medical experts have to say about keeping that sweet, gummy smile healthy.
The right routine, and the right products, are important
"Around the age of 3 months, I start a bedtime routine with my babies. I give them a warm bath, rub some bedtime lotion on their skin, and brush their gums with Baby Orajel Elmo Tooth & Gum Cleanser with Finger Brush. By having a regular routine, it helps to signal and prepare my baby for bedtime. I find that introducing brushing early not only helps protect their emerging teeth, but it also helps them to be comfortable with having their gums and teeth brushed as they get older, resulting in fewer toddler battles over brushing."
— Janessa Solem, blogger at Thrifty Nifty Mommy and mom of five
Start a few days after they're born
"I would recommend to start brushing your baby's gums a few days after birth. You can use a soft, moist gauze or clean, moistened washcloth. Having good oral hygiene from the beginning is so important for oral health. The bacteria that lives in our mouths in combination with the acid, food debris, and saliva combines to form plaque that can damage the enamel of the teeth, thus leading to cavities."
— Jessica (J.J.) Smith, CPNP-AC, CPN, board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner currently practicing in acute care medicine at Dayton Children's Hospital in Dayton, Ohio
An early start gets them used to it
"You should get them used to oral care as early as possible. Also massaging their little gums with your clean fingers is soothing for them in case they're teething."
— Yuliana Delgado, Mom.com team and mom of two
Before or after feedings, from the beginning
"You can start brushing your baby's gums right away. In the beginning, before baby has any teeth, I would suggest using a washcloth to rub the baby's gums before or after feedings."
— Christy Quinn, Mom.com team and mom of one
This dentist recommends starting right away
"The first month of their life."
— Dr. Melissa Weintraub, dentist, blogger, and mom of three
Incorporate it into bath time
"Instinct may tell us to wait until baby's teeth are showing, but I would always use a clean gauze pad during bath time to gently clean my newborn's gums."
— Johanna Torres, Mom.com team and mom of three
Don't wait until you see teeth
"Start as early as possible. Long before teeth are visible. If you practice oral health early, hopefully they won't become resistant to teeth-brushing later."
— Gretchen Bossio, blogger and mom of four
*Disclaimer: The advice on Mom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
