Baby Teeth and Oral Care at 10–12 Months

When should you start brushing?

Start regular brushing as soon as your baby’s first tooth appears. The AAP recommends cleaning teeth twice a day from the first tooth. The aim is not only to remove visible food but also to build a routine that regularly removes plaque from tooth surfaces.

A 10–12-month-old may want to hold the brush and explore it, but is not expected to clean their teeth effectively alone. Brush for your baby, or finish the job after they have had a turn.

A small-headed, soft-bristled brush made for a baby can make this easier. Pressing hard does not clean better; gently reach the front, back, and chewing surfaces of the teeth.

Should you use fluoride toothpaste?

Current AAP guidance recommends a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste from the first tooth until age three. A 2026 source from a Turkish Ministry of Health-affiliated oral health center also recommends this small amount for children under three, based on current pediatric dental guidance.

The amount is deliberately tiny because a 10–12-month-old is not expected to spit toothpaste out. More toothpaste does not mean better protection. The simplest way to control the amount is for you to put it on the brush.

Older Turkish institutional web pages may still say not to use toothpaste before age three. This guide follows the newer 2026 institutional source and current AAP advice, which support a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste under age three.

How often and when should you brush?

The AAP recommends brushing twice a day. You can make this part of the morning and bedtime routines. Cleaning teeth after the last food or drink at night helps make oral care a regular habit.

At this age, there is no need for a timer or to keep your baby’s mouth open for a long time. The goal is to gently reach the surfaces of all erupted teeth and repeat this every day.

If your baby resists, try not to turn brushing into a struggle. Keeping it brief, using the same place and order, offering a second brush to hold, or looking together in a mirror may make the routine easier.

How do night feeds and sweet flavours affect teeth?

After teeth appear, frequent or prolonged contact with sugary drinks and foods can increase the risk of tooth decay. The AAP advises against putting a baby to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, juice, or another drink. The concern is repeated, prolonged sugar exposure, rather than one night feed by itself.

Do not dip a dummy in honey, syrup, jam, or other sweet foods. Babies under 12 months must not have honey because of botulism risk; sweetened dummies can also keep teeth in contact with sugar.

This does not mean that a child must never have sugar. It is more helpful to keep a regular meal pattern, avoid frequent sugary foods and drinks, and make brushing part of the bedtime routine.

When should you consider a first dental visit?

A dental visit is not only for pain, a broken tooth, or decay. The AAP recommends arranging the first visit after the first tooth appears and by the first birthday at the latest. The visit can assess early decay risk, review care habits, and answer parents’ questions.

The timing of routine checks can vary by service and a child’s individual risk. There is no universal list of tests or procedures that every baby must have at 12 months.

If you notice a white or brown mark, a broken tooth, swelling, bleeding, clear pain, or an injury, contact a dentist rather than waiting for a routine check.

What can you do today?

Aim to brush your baby’s erupted teeth twice today with a small-headed, soft-bristled brush.

Put only a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste on the brush yourself; do not cover the bristles.

Review your bedtime routine. After the last food or drink, make toothbrushing one of the final steps where possible.

If your baby has not yet seen a dentist, ask a children’s dentist or your local health team when a preventive first visit would be suitable.