Paediatricians generally recommend that regular dental care should start at one year of age. A routine check-up with the dentist should be done twice a year.
Thumb sucking and dummies
Thumb sucking up to the age of two is completely harmless to the teeth. Most children suck their thumbs until they are five years old. Beyond that, parents should try to wean them off thumb-sucking, as it can cause their teeth to grow crooked.
It is generally better to get the baby used to a dummy than a thumb, as the dummy is softer and therefore exerts less pressure on the teeth. If the dummy is regularly rinsed, disinfected and replaced, it is much more hygienic than the thumb, as children play with their hands in the dirt and do not wax them before the thumb is put in their mouth.
It is also easier to wean children off a dummy than off their thumb. However, the same applies to dummies: children should stop using them from the age of five at the latest.
Oral care for babies
The development of the first milk teeth begins at six months. Therefore, the baby's mouth should be cleaned with a soft baby toothbrush before going to sleep at night. You can talk to your paediatrician about possible fluoride supplements.
12 to 24 months
Teeth should be brushed with a baby toothbrush after every meal. The child can now learn to rinse its mouth after brushing its teeth and can therefore use a pea-sized portion of children's toothpaste.
If the child is old enough to chew gum, it is a good idea to offer him or her a chewing gum from time to time.
