You should start caring for your baby’s mouth from birth , and start brushing teeth as soon as the very first tooth appears, usually around 4–6 months.

Quick Scoop

  • Clean gums from birth with a soft, damp cloth or silicone finger brush once a day.
  • Start brushing the moment you see the first tooth come in, typically around 6 months (earlier or later is still normal).
  • Use a baby toothbrush with soft bristles and just a smear / rice‑grain amount of fluoride toothpaste for infants.
  • Brush twice a day (morning and bedtime) as soon as there is a tooth to brush.
  • Around age 3, you can increase to a pea‑sized amount of toothpaste, still with close supervision.
  • Book a first dentist visit by your baby’s first birthday or within 6 months of the first tooth erupting.

Mini‑guide: Timeline at a Glance

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Age / stage What to do Toothpaste?
Newborn – first tooth Wipe gums daily with soft, damp cloth or finger brush to remove bacteria and get baby used to oral care.Usually just water; some dentists allow a tiny smear of fluoride once a tooth appears, if recommended locally.
First tooth – ~12 months Brush any erupted teeth twice daily with a soft infant toothbrush.Smear/rice‑grain amount of fluoride toothpaste if advised by your dentist or local guidelines.
12–36 months Keep brushing twice a day, help baby learn to spit, and schedule regular dental checkups.Continue a tiny smear; some sources introduce more toward age 3 under supervision.
3+ years Still help and supervise brushing; most kids can’t do a good job alone until 6–7 years.Pea‑sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, twice daily.

Why “so early”?

Once a tooth is in the mouth, plaque and sugars can start causing decay, even in tiny baby teeth. Early brushing reduces the risk of cavities and helps your baby accept toothbrushing as a normal, everyday routine rather than something new and scary later.

An easy example: a baby who has had their gums wiped gently every evening since birth usually tolerates a toothbrush much better when that first tooth pops through than a baby who is having anything put in their mouth for cleaning for the very first time.

Forum‑style tips parents often share

“Brushing a baby’s teeth is a wrestling match sometimes, but being consistent pays off.”

Common real‑world strategies include:

  • Turning brushing into a quick game or song to keep baby distracted.
  • Letting baby hold a second toothbrush to chew while you do the real brushing.
  • Brushing your own teeth at the same time so they can copy you.

If your baby still has no teeth by around 18 months, most pediatric dental sources suggest checking in with a dentist to rule out delayed eruption issues.

TL;DR: Clean gums from birth, start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears, use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste on a soft baby brush twice a day, and get a first dental visit by age one.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.