If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

Healthy teeth are important to your baby’s overall health. They help your baby eat and form sounds and words. They also affect the way your baby’s jaw grows. Good oral care helps set good dental habits as your baby grows. Poor oral care can lead to infection, disease, or other teeth problems.

Path to improved well being

Most babies’ first teeth start to come in at around 6 months.  Some start teething a little earlier, some a little later. The first teeth to come in are usually the 2 bottom front teeth.

The process of your baby getting teeth is called teething.  When your baby starts teething, you may notice that they will start to drool more or may want to chew on things. For some babies, teething may be painless. For others, their gums may be sore. They may be fussy. Other symptoms of teething are loss of appetite and trouble sleeping. Fever or diarrhea is not a normal part of teething.

• These tips can help relieve your baby’s discomfort: Give your baby a cold teething ring or a cold washcloth to chew or suck on.
• Rub your baby’s gum with a clean finger.
• Ask your healthcare provider if you can give your baby infant’s acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol). Do not give your baby aspirin. Aspirin can cause Reye’s syndrome, a serious illness that can lead to death in children under 18 years old.

Don’t use teething gels.  They can affect your baby’s health or cause choking by making the throat numb.

Teething does not have to interfere with breastfeeding. You can continue to breastfeed your baby as usual if they start teething.

Clean your baby’s teeth and gums with a wet washcloth or gauze. Do this at least once a day or after feedings. Start cleaning your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as the first tooth appears. For children under 3, the Canadian Dental Association says that unless there is a risk for tooth decay, you should use plain water to brush your baby’s teeth.  If your baby is not at risk for tooth decay, brush your child’s teeth and gums with a child-sized toothbrush and water. If your baby is at risk for tooth decay, brush their teeth and gums with a child-sized toothbrush and a small smear of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice).

Things to consider

• If you give your baby a bottle, always hold the baby when you feed them. Do not leave a bottle in the crib. And do not let your baby fall asleep with a bottle. The milk can pool in your baby’s mouth and cause tooth decay.
• Do not give your baby a sippy cup of juice or milk in the crib. Your baby can start using a cup when they are about 6 months of age. Stop giving your baby a bottle when they are 1 year of age. Don’t let your baby carry around a sippy cup unless it has only water in it.
• Try to stop using a pacifier around age 1. The same age applies for babies who suck their thumbs. Prolonged use of a pacifier or thumb sucking can cause problems with teeth alignment. Always use a clean pacifier. Do not dip it in anything.

Your baby should see a dentist for the first time around their first birthday. This is important if they are at high risk for cavities or other teeth problems.