You baby’s teeth may be tiny, but they’re still important because they act as placeholders for their adult teeth. And without a healthy set of baby teeth, your child will have trouble chewing and speaking clearly. So it falls to you to care for your baby’s gums and teeth.

Wiping Your Baby’s Gums

Make a daily habit of wiping your baby’s gums right away because you will wash off bacteria and prevent it from clinging to her gums. Use these two steps:

1. Use a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze.

2. Gently wipe down your baby’s gums after feedings and before bedtime.

Brushing Your Baby’s Teeth

When your baby’s first teeth start to come in, you can start using a toothbrush. Choose one with a soft brush, small head, and a large handle.

You can start using a tiny bit of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, and you can increase this to a pea-sized amount of  fluoride toothpaste when your child is 3 years old. Brush gently all around your child’s baby teeth — front and back. Make it fun so you encourage good oral hygiene habits!

You should brush your baby’s teeth until she is old enough to hold the brush, but continue to supervise the process until your child can rinse and spit without assistance. And your child should go for her first dentist visit when she turns two.