Looking after your baby’s oral care starts the day they are born. Cleaning your baby’s gums will help to prevent bacteria build up and establish a healthy environment for your baby’s new baby teeth when they come through.

You should wipe your baby’s gums with a clean cloth and cooled boiled water, as part of their daily oral care routine and also after feeding. You can also use Brush-Baby DentalWipes™ to clean your baby’s gums, as it has added xylitol, a natural ingredient which helps reduce the number of decay and inflammation-causing bacteria.

Another option is the Brush-Baby Chewable Toothbrush™ which will also help to clean your baby’s gums.

As soon as your baby’s first pearly white pops up, it’s time to shop for their first toothbrush.

Even the first of your baby’s teeth needs to be cleaned, as once it has emerged bacteria and plaque will start to cling to the tooth’s surface.

Cleaning your little one’s teeth twice a day helps remove these bacteria and starts to get your baby used to the toothbrushing routine and the feeling of a nice fresh mouth.

Don’t forget to give toothless gums a gentle clean too with a clean, moist, soft flannel or a DentalWipe™.

Two minutes can seem like a long time, we know! Why not set a countdown timer on your phone?

Or play them a video on your phone or tablet that lasts for 2 minutes? It’s also worth checking out toothbrushing songs, videos or cartoons online as there are some great options around to keep them entertained.

There are lots of different toothbrushes on the market. The important thing to remember is that your child needs a toothbrush that will clean effectively deep down between their teeth.

If your child has a mix of baby and adult teeth, or crooked teeth, then the FlossBrush™ is ideal - it has longer bristles so can clean in between teeth.

You could also opt for an electric toothbrush like the KidzSonic or brush-baby Go-Kidz toothbrush. They both have a two-minute timer and 30 second pulse, so you know exactly how long you need to brush for.

Choosing the right toothpaste for your child’s baby teeth is mainly about choosing the right amount of fluoride in the toothpaste, but it’s also about experimenting with different flavours.

Little taste buds can often find minty flavours quite strong. Fluoride is found naturally in food and water and the amount of fluoride differs depending on where you live. It helps to prevent tooth decay by hardening the enamel on the tooth’s surface.

However, eating or drinking too much fluoride can cause permanent stains on the developing adult teeth, so it’s important to encourage your little one to spit out their toothpaste after brushing, instead of swallowing. Choose a toothpaste with no more than 1000 parts per million Fluoride until your little one turns 3.