Health Tip: Starting a Tooth Brushing Routine Early

• Tweet
• Pin It

Tooth brushing should begin in infancy to instill lifelong habits and protect teeth throughout adulthood.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests:

• Start practicing oral hygiene as soon as your baby is born by wiping baby’s gums with a soft, clean washcloth.
• Never give your baby a bottle in the crib.
• Choose healthy solids when introducing food to avoid tooth decay.
• Brush a child’s teeth until the age of 3. Twice daily, use a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice.
• Children age 3 and older may be able to brush teeth themselves with adult supervision. Twice daily, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Source: HealthDay

Copyright © 2026 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

• Tweet
• Pin It