Eloise has two lovely little bottom teeth, which she likes to bite you with at any opportunity!
Seeing these two perfect gnashers reminds me how important it is to look after them, so I want to get her used to teeth cleaning. I’ve been using a little ‘Brush Baby’ – a soft flexible teething toothbrush which she likes chewing on during the day. We’ve been putting a small amount of toothpaste on it twice a day (well, most days, when I remember!)
Experts recommend to start cleaning baby’s teeth as soon as they emerge – she’ll have 20 milk teeth by the time she’s two and a half. For the best chance of healthy teeth, it’s good to offer just milk or water rather than juices and to give her a beaker from six months – we’ve been doing this, using a ‘free flow’ spout which Ellie can now easily help herself to, although we all end up getting drenched!
I’ve also been encouraging more savoury food, although when we’re on the run a quick snack will often be a rice cake or breadstick – I’m not organised enough to carry around veggie sticks! Sugary foods, including things like dried fruit (which stick to teeth), should apparently be offered no more than four times a day. Good snacks are cheese, fresh fruit and veg and mini-sandwiches.
There’s some more helpful info at:
http://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/children-s-teeth/children-s-teeth
In the meantime, if you have any tips on baby-teeth cleaning, please share. Or if anyone knows what else Ellie can sink her teeth into, rather than my arm, I’d be grateful! x