Due to the temporary nature of first teeth, there has been little importance placed on brushing.A common question asked by new parents is, “Why should I worry about cavities in baby’s teeth when these fall out anyway?” There are many reasons why baby teeth should be looked after right from the start and the establishment of a good dental routine by parents can be of great benefit to a child.

Looking after teeth is essential for a healthy mouth through to adulthood. It ensures that the adult teeth have a healthy environment to grow into thus lessening dental problems and later orthodontic intervention. Baby teeth can be regarded as ‘placeholders’ and serve as spacers for the permanent teeth. Decay and early loss of these teeth can result in inadequate space being left for permanent teeth to grow.This could lead to the shifting and overcrowding of the adult teeth, which may require orthodontic braces for straightening.

Healthy teeth mean that your child is able to properly chew food and thereby assimilate the necessary nutrients. The first step to healthy teeth is a natural diet made of unprocessed wholefoods, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in sugar. However, even small babies are exposed to sugar- the natural sugars in breast milk. Further, our growing inability to access truly natural, unprocessed foods makes the brushing of the first teeth an even more important tool in the prevention of decay and gum disease.

Healthy teeth can greatly impact on the self confidence of your child. They are important in helping your baby speak clearly and properly. Missing teeth, decaying teeth or bad breath can lead to your child being teased by other children. So, healthy looking teeth also contribute to the positive self image of a child. Many paediatricians and dentists now agree that it is best to start cleaning your baby’s mouth even before the first teeth start to show.

At first a clean piece of gauze or cloth, wrapped around the finger can be used to clean the gums and tongue.At around three to six months when the first teeth begin to break through a soft fingertip toothbrush, usually made out of silicone, is most suitable.The fingertip toothbrush is worn on the adult’s index finger. As the fingertip contains many nerve endings it is more sensitive and therefore can feel around on the inside of the mouth to locate the teeth. A fingertip toothbrush is gentle on the gums and a baby does not get the feeling of being invaded by a foreign object. A toothbrush only becomes useful after the first year. By then the instinctive chewing reflex has somewhat lessened and your baby is usually willing to open its mouth wide enough for a toothbrush to fit. Before this age the baby merely chomps down on the brush making effective brushing difficult and injury prone.

Once your baby is around 18 months a toothbrush with a thick handle and soft bristles can be used. Use a small, pea sized amount of toothpaste. The toothpaste should be specifically formulated for babies. These are mild in flavour, containing no fluoride and are safe when swallowed.

Harness your child’s natural desire to imitate adult behaviour and brush together. Make brushing fun! Your enthusiasm and creativity in turning the activity into a game will allow your child to establish a routine that is enjoyable. Brushing in the morning and evening, especially after the last feed, is most beneficial.Sugars in breastmilk and leftover food particles combine with the saliva forming the caries causing acid which needs to be removed from the teeth. Support your baby to independent self care by allowing her to brush on her own as soon as she wants to.However, it is important to make sure that you preform a ‘post-brush’ up until the age of six or seven.

To move from a gummy smile to a full set of teeth is a rite of passage that brings with it many behavioural and cognitive developments Fritz Perlslaced such importance on the emergence of teeth that he used this metaphor as a model for his complete theory of human development
“Just as the infant, now armed with teeth which enable it to chew food rather than merely swallow it, begins to develop its own sense of taste about what it likes or wants and doesn't like or want, it can also begin to discriminate and select from what it swallows psychologically from the environment. In becoming a critic of experience, the child forms an individual personality.” It is satisfying for a parent to know that a quick and simple routine can be so beneficial for a child.

Reference:
From, I. (1994), ;The Gestalt Journal Press Edition of Gestalt Therapy by Perls, Hefferline and Goodman, Available: http://www.gestalt.org/phgintro.htm (14 April, 2006)