Teething and tooth care: looking after your baby's first teeth

Your baby’s first teeth are incredibly important, they help them eat, speak, and smile with confidence.  

We know getting young children to brush their teeth isn’t always easy, many parents face daily battles at brushing time. It’s tempting to think baby teeth aren’t that important since they’ll eventually fall out. But developing tooth problems in early childhood can lead to pain, trouble eating and speaking, low self-esteem and in some cases, infections and missed school. Children may also have to attend hospital to have teeth removed. 

That’s why building healthy dental habits from the start really matters. Even small changes can make a big difference. Una has some helpful advice to help you care for your child’s teeth and set them up for life.

Teething: What to expect and how to help 

Babies usually begin teething around six months, though it can happen slightly earlier or later. Sometimes teeth can emerge without any pain or upset but it’s more common for babies to show signs of discomfort, such as sore gums or increased dribbling.  

• Chewing or gnawing on fingers or toys. 

• Red, swollen, or tender gums. 

• Flushed cheeks or fussiness. 

You can try soothing sore gums using: 

• A chilled (not frozen) teething ring. 

• Soft vegetables or fruit (for babies who’ve started weaning [link to page]) but be sure to supervise carefully to avoid choking. 

Avoid giving rusks or sugary foods to teething babies, even if they have just a few teeth, as these can increase the risk of tooth decay.  

There’s limited evidence that teething gels, amber beads, or homeopathic powders reliably relieve discomfort. Some teething gels contain mild local anaesthetic so if you’re considering using one, check with a pharmacist to ensure it’s appropriate and safe.  

If your baby seems to be in pain, sugar‑free infant pain relief (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen) may be used from three months onwards. Always follow the dosing instructions.

Brushing baby’s teeth: A step‑by‑step guide 

Start brushing as soon as your child's first tooth appears. Early habits are easier to maintain as your child grows. 

Follow these steps: 

• Use a smear (rice-grain amount) of toothpaste for children under three years.  

• The toothpaste you use should contain at least 1,000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride. You can find this information on the back of the toothpaste. 

• Brush twice a day, ideally for two minutes each time. Always last thing at night, plus one other time. A good time for babies is when they are having their bath. When you have finished brushing let your baby hold the brush so they start to get used to putting it in their mouth themselves. Always supervise them when doing this. 

• Wait at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing to protect enamel. 

• Use a small baby-sized toothbrush. Replace their toothbrush around every three months, or sooner if the bristles are worn.

Finding a dentist 

If you don’t have an NHS dentist, and you live in: 

• England, you can search on the NHS website for a dentist. Alternatively, call NHS England's Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 2233. This number will take you to general enquiries, who can help. 

• Northern Ireland, the Health and Social Care website lists dentists.

• Scotland, you can search on the NHS Inform Scotland page for a dentist.

• Wales, the 111 website lists dentists.

Baby feeding and tooth care: how to protect your baby’s teeth from the start 

What your baby eats and drinks in their early years has a big impact on their oral health. Sugary foods and drinks, even natural sugars, can cause tooth decay, especially as baby teeth are more vulnerable. 

Whether you’re offering milk, starting on solids, or introducing a cup, here’s how to help protect your baby’s smile.

Healthy drinks for babies 

• From six months, start introducing your baby to sips of water in an open cup rather than a bottle or spouted beaker, as this helps reduce the risk of tooth decay by limiting how long liquids stay in contact with their teeth. 

• Aim to stop using bottles by the time your baby turns one year old, as prolonged use can lead to baby bottle decay, a type of early tooth decay. This happens when babies have constant access to drinks other than water, for example if they go to bed with a bottle or use it as a pacifier.  

• Stick to plain water or milk between meals. Avoid fruit juices, fizzy drinks, or anything with added sugar. 

• Never add sugar, honey, or syrups to your baby’s drinks or put them on dummies, even natural sweeteners can harm teeth. 

• Don’t allow your baby to fall asleep with a bottle unless it contains only water. 

Weaning without the worries 

When you start giving your baby solid foods it’s important to try and avoid foods with sugar. Be cautious with baby rusks, baby rice, and packaged baby foods many contain free sugars (sugars added to food or drinks), which can damage developing teeth. Remember a label saying ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t mean it’s sugar free. 

If you’re giving your baby ready-made food in pouches, don’t let your child suck straight from the pouch as this can increase the chances of tooth decay. Instead squeeze the food onto a spoon for them to eat.  

Avoid letting your child snack or graze throughout the day as frequent exposure to sugars increases the risk of decay. 

By keeping meals and drinks low in sugar, you’re not just supporting your baby’s overall healthy development, you’re also laying the foundation for strong teeth and a healthy smile for life. 

Need some more support with keeping your child’s teeth healthy? 

• The NHS has resources on how to take care of your baby or toddler's teeth.

• CBeebies has videos and songs featuring characters including Hey Dugee, Bing and Maddie + Triggs to help encourage your little one to brush their teeth. S4C have a Brush Your Teeth song in Welsh. 

• The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry are experts in looking after children’s oral health. They’ve got videos featuring Dr. Ranj on caring for children’s teeth you can watch. 

All of the information on this page was created with practising health professionals. This page was reviewed in December 2025. We will next review the page in 2028.