Dental Health for Babies and Toddlers: When to Start and What to Avoid

1Starting Dental Care Before the First Tooth

Begin oral hygiene at birth. After each feeding, wipe your newborn's gums with a clean damp cloth or gauze to remove milk residue and establish the habit early. The first tooth typically erupts between four and seven months. From the first tooth's arrival, use a soft silicone finger toothbrush with water — no toothpaste yet until 18 months. Use a grain-of-rice amount of fluoride toothpaste from 18 months to three years, and a pea-sized amount from three years onward. Brush twice daily, especially before bed.

2The Biggest Threat: Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

The most common cause of severe early childhood caries in the Philippines is the nighttime bottle habit — milk or formula pooling around the teeth during sleep. Milk contains natural sugars that feed decay-causing bacteria. Never put your child to sleep with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice. If your baby falls asleep while breastfeeding, wipe the gums after. Avoid giving sweetened beverages, softdrinks, or juice between meals. Filipino families frequently offer sweetened biscocho or pan de sal to teething babies — these contain sugars that significantly increase decay risk.

3First Dental Visit: When and What to Expect

The Philippine Pediatric Dental Society recommends the first dental visit within six months of the first tooth's eruption — ideally by the child's first birthday. Many Filipino families wait until pain occurs, which means most first visits are for emergencies rather than prevention. Find a pediatric dentist comfortable with very young children (many list at Manila Doctors, Makati Medical Center, and St. Luke's BGC). Early visits establish positive associations with dental care. Fluoride varnish applied by a dentist provides additional protection for high-risk children.

Doctor's Perspective