• We encourage you to breastfeed your little one as long as you desire! WHO also supports breastfeeding to 2 years and older! In order to support your journey while also protecting your baby’s new teeth, we suggest focusing on oral hygiene once those first teeth start to appear. This can be done by wiping down your baby’s gums/teeth with gauze or a wet cloth before putting them down to sleep, and slowly working toward less frequent night feeds as they grow.

• Key points:
  • Please continue to breastfeed for as long as you and your baby desire!
  • Introduce the bedtime routine of “milk-brush-sleep” once teeth erupt.
  • While transitioning out of feeding during the night, please remember to wipe your baby’s teeth (especially the upper front teeth) before putting them back to sleep.
• Facts:
  • Breast milk itself does not cause cavities!
  • Cavity risk can be significantly reduced if teeth are brushed properly before night time after milk intake. Milk intake throughout the night is actually the main factor that causes cavities regardless of breastmilk, formula, or whole milk.
  • Frequency of milk intake matters too!
    • After your little one starts taking solid food, studies have shown that breastfeeding more than 7 times a day can increase cavity risk.

• When? – On average, the eruption of the first tooth occurs around 6 months old, but remember this is only an average. It is also completely normal to see the teeth come in earlier or later, or in a different sequence. Generally speaking, the bottom 2 front teeth erupt first, followed by the top 2 front teeth.
• Should I brush one tooth? – Yes! Once your little one starts eating solids, the night time brushing prior to bed becomes even more important!
• Real toothbrush – You have probably been brushing with silicone finger brushes prior to the 1st tooth, and now it’s the perfect time to start introducing a real toothbrush! The bristles will more effectively remove plaque and food debris.
• Toothpaste – Believe it or not, you can also start using toothpaste with fluoride even with one tooth in the mouth per the recommendation of American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). We recommend using only a very small smear layer (imagine 1/10 of a rice) at this point with 1-2 teeth in the mouth. You can wipe the paste away but it’s also safe to swallow some.

• 1st visit = 1st birthday!
• It is the recommendation of the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) to have the 1st dental visit within 6 months of the first tooth eruption or around the 1st birthday.
• Why so early? – It is important to stay on the “prevention” side of dentistry! A big part of the 1st visit is to provide caregivers with the tools and knowledge to excel in promoting great oral health for their kids. These visits also allow your little one to become familiar with their dental home and understand that prevention can be FUN and doesn’t need to be scary.
• Not to mention, baby teeth MATTER a lot! Learning to care for them properly sets up the motivation to establish good oral hygiene that will last into adulthood.

• We can help you establish dental habits for a healthy routine from day one. From what toothbrush to use, how much toothpaste, when to brush, and more, we can walk you through the steps to ensure your baby’s teeth stay healthy for a lifetime of happy smiles!
• You can actually start “brushing” before the first teeth erupt. Cleaning the gums is also an excellent way to remove bacteria that grows there. The AAPD recommends cleaning and wiping your baby’s mouth after each feed (especially at night before they sleep).
• Once the teeth erupt, you can start using a smear layer (or rice sized amount) of fluoride toothpaste, which is perfectly safe for infants and toddlers. Since Vancouver does not add fluoride to the tap water, toothpaste is an important source of fluoride for our teeth and is a vital part of strengthening enamel and avoiding cavities!

Congratulations! Getting new teeth is exciting! Teething is a normal development and reaction when teeth break through the gum.

• • • When? – On average, baby teeth erupt between 6 months old to 3 years old. There are twenty baby teeth in total!
    • What are the symptoms? – You may be seeing your little one putting their fingers in the mouth more, biting on finger or toy a lot, rosy cheek, more saliva production and drooling, more grumpy and difficulty sleeping. However, remember true high fever is not directly linked to teething. Sometimes you may also see swelling or raised gum in the area.
    • How to help? This can be a tough time for both baby and parent. If your little one is experiencing discomfort with the eruption of their new teeth, there are a few options for soothing their sore gums. Gentle gum massage and offering something cold for your baby to chew on can help the process. Frozen carrots or other fruits/veggies can be a great option for your little one to munch on while also soothing their discomfort.
      • We advise to not use the amber necklace to prevent choking hazards.
      • Infant Tylenol could be the last resort if your little one is not sleeping well at night. There are other over-the-counter products for teething, such as Camilia. It is more herbal based and no good scientific support of its effectiveness. Follow the label if you choose to use those products but remember to avoid teething products that contain benzocaine.