The short answer
Begin brushing with a small, soft toothbrush as soon as the first tooth appears. The AAP recommends a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Arrange the first dental visit by your baby’s first birthday.
In this guide · 12 sections
Keep in mind
- Start brushing when the first tooth appears; do not wait for all the teeth.
- An adult should brush twice daily using a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste.
- Arrange a dental visit by the first birthday and seek advice sooner for pain or visible changes.
What changes when the first tooth appears?
Before teeth appear, you can gently wipe your baby’s gums with a clean, slightly damp cloth. Once the first baby tooth breaks through the gum, it is time to clean its surface with a small, soft toothbrush. You do not need to wait for every tooth to arrive.
The first tooth may look like a tiny white line. Starting with brief, comfortable cleaning before it has fully emerged can help build a daily habit.
How often should you brush?
Brush twice a day from the first tooth, including before bedtime. At first, brushing may last only a few seconds. Focus on gently reaching the tooth surfaces and gradually making cleaning more consistent, without forcing your baby.
Your baby may bite the brush, turn their head or try to hold it out of curiosity. You do not need to turn this into a battle. Try again at a calmer moment, sing a short song or let them watch you brush your own teeth.
Which brush and position can you use?
Choose a baby toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. Support your baby securely on your lap, with their head resting against your chest if this helps you see their teeth. Use gentle movements to reach the front and back surfaces.
Your baby can hold the brush to explore it, but a seven-to-nine-month-old cannot clean their own teeth effectively. An adult must finish the brushing. Never leave your baby unattended with a toothbrush in their mouth.
How much fluoride toothpaste should you use?
The AAP recommends a smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, from the first tooth until age three. A pea-sized amount is too much for a baby this age. Use the tiny amount yourself rather than allowing your baby to squeeze the tube.
Confirm the product and amount with your baby’s dentist or pediatric clinician. CDC advice for children under two also recommends discussing fluoride toothpaste with a professional. Do not start fluoride drops or other supplements on your own; the need depends on individual risk and fluoride exposure.
What if your baby cannot spit out toothpaste?
A baby this age is not expected to spit out toothpaste. That makes the very small amount important. Keep the tube out of reach and do not let your baby suck toothpaste from it.
You do not need to ask your baby to rinse their mouth with lots of water afterward. Keep cleaning calm, brief and controlled.
How do breastfeeding, formula and solid foods relate to teeth?
The first tooth does not mean breastfeeding must stop. Breast milk or age-appropriate infant formula remains an important part of nutrition. Oral care aims to limit material remaining on tooth surfaces and help reduce decay risk, rather than cut off feeding.
Avoid foods and drinks with added sugar. Do not put your baby to sleep with a sugary drink or leave a bottle in their mouth. Add evening brushing to the routine without interpreting this as a general instruction to stop night feeds.
When should the first dental visit happen?
Arrange a dental visit by your baby’s first birthday, whether or not a tooth has appeared. You can discuss tooth eruption, brushing technique, toothpaste, fluoride needs and feeding questions.
Your baby does not need a mouthful of teeth before the first visit. Ask sooner if you notice white, brown or black spots, a broken tooth or another change rather than waiting for the routine appointment.
What can you do today?
Have a small, soft baby toothbrush ready. When your baby is calm during the day, gently brush their tooth and repeat before bedtime. Let these two brief moments become a familiar habit over time.
Check the toothpaste label and ask a dental professional about a suitable product. Planning a dental appointment before the first birthday gives you time to discuss your baby’s individual needs.
When should you ask for an assessment?
Contact a dentist if you notice a distinct spot, hole or fracture in a tooth, a mouth sore that does not heal, continuing bleeding or swelling. If pain prevents feeding or your baby seems generally unwell, do not assume teething is the only cause.
Rapidly increasing facial swelling or difficulty breathing or swallowing needs emergency assessment. Call 911 for severe breathing difficulty or unresponsiveness. You cannot reliably diagnose the cause by looking at the area at home.
When to seek support
Some signs need emergency help; other concerns can be discussed with your child’s healthcare team.
- Call 911 for severe breathing difficulty or unresponsiveness.
- Seek emergency assessment for rapidly increasing facial swelling or difficulty swallowing.
- Ask a dentist about visible tooth changes, persistent bleeding, swelling or pain that interferes with feeding.
Sources used for this guide
- www.healthychildren.org — regional guidance
- American Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren.org — HealthyChildren – Good Oral Health Starts Early
- American Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren.org — HealthyChildren – Fluoride for Children: Parent FAQs
- NHS — Baby and toddler tooth care
- NHS — Looking after your baby’s teeth
- CDC — Oral Health Tips for Children
- CDC — About Fluoride
- National Health Service (NHS) — Children's teeth
English editorial review:
The English text and regional guidance have been checked editorially. This is not an individual clinical assessment.
Luluna provides general parenting information. It does not diagnose conditions or replace your child’s healthcare professional.
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