How do I care for my baby's teeth before they can brush?

Good oral care begins even before the first tooth does. After feedings, gently wipe your baby's gums with a clean, damp washcloth or a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. This clears away leftover milk or formula and, just as usefully, gets your baby accustomed to having their mouth cared for — which makes the switch to brushing far easier later.

Once that first tooth pushes through, usually around six months, it's time to start brushing. Use a soft-bristled infant toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice, twice a day — morning and, most importantly, right before bed. That tiny amount of fluoride is both safe and effective even for babies who can't yet spit it out, and it's one of the best things you can do to prevent early cavities.

The single most important habit to avoid is putting your baby to bed with a bottle. When a baby falls asleep with milk, formula, breast milk, or juice pooling around their teeth, those natural sugars feed the bacteria that cause "baby bottle" tooth decay — one of the most common and most preventable problems we see, and one that often hits the upper front teeth hard. If your baby needs a bottle to settle, offer it before bed, then wipe or brush those little teeth, and put them down with nothing but water if they still need to suck to sleep.

Be mindful of daytime grazing too. A sippy cup of milk or juice that your baby carries around and sips all afternoon keeps their teeth bathed in sugar for hours. Reserve the cup for water between meals, and keep milk and juice to mealtimes.

A few other early habits help: avoid sharing spoons or "cleaning" a pacifier in your own mouth, since the bacteria that cause cavities can pass from caregiver to baby that way. And schedule that first dental visit by your baby's first birthday. Bringing them in early lets us check those brand-new teeth, make sure everything is developing well, and give you personalized guidance — so you're never guessing about what your baby's smile needs.

These first months of care are simple, but they set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth.