
Tooth brushing doesn’t have to be a chore, the key is to make it fun for your little bubbas! Bookmark this oral care guide on how to get started.
The little ones grow up so quickly — before you know it, they’re crawling, they’re walking, and they’re starting to get their first teeth too! Don’t brush off proper tooth care just because of their age; in fact, it’s imperative to establish good dental hygiene from a young age.
So, how exactly do you care for their little pearly whites, especially when solids are introduced to their diet? We’ve got a handy baby oral care guide to get you started.
How to introduce your child to the concept of teeth brushing
The key is to make it fun! Singing related songs always helps — check out ‘brush your teeth’ and ‘healthy habits.

Even better: why not turn teeth brushing into something special that they get to do together with you? Brush your teeth at the same time, and encourage your child to mimic your actions. One hack that we swear by is letting your little ones try everything new on their own to give them a sense of ownership. For example, prompt your child to brush their own teeth, before you do another round to cover all the bases.
Take turns to hold the toothbrush, and include teeth brushing into your daily routine. For example, even before your child’s teeth start appearing, you can start by reading books that touch on the topic of tooth brushing.
Arm yourself with the right tools

If you want to ease your child into the whole process, start with a fingerbrush. Fun fact: you can start using it from birth! This helps to remove any milk building up on your baby’s gums, and also gets them used to the sensation.
We’ve got our eyes on the Oral7 baby fingerbrush, which fits onto adult fingers like a glove. BPA-free and dishwasher safe, the fingerbrush is padded with soft vinyl bristles for maximum comfort. It’s also ideal for gentle gum massages, which is great to relieve teething discomfort. That’s not all: it even has a nifty safety feature that prevents airway blockage, just in case curious little ones try to munch on it!
Once the lil uns get a little older, say around three years old or so, you can slowly introduce a toothbrush. Make it something they’ll like — choose one in their favourite colour, or even go for one with their favourite cartoon character on it. Don’t forget to change toothbrushes every three months to keep them in tip-top shape.
Find a safe (and nice tasting!) toothpaste
We’re not going to lie, but the biggest hurdle is finding a toothpaste that your child will accept or even love. The first step is to find a safe toothpaste that won’t be harmful if consumed — because let’s face it, there’s a high chance that the little ones will be swallowing some of it!

We love Oral7 baby toothpaste, a reputed enzymatic toothpaste that doesn’t contain foaming agents, artificial colouring, or any harmful chemicals that are a big no-no. In fact, the toothpaste is made from the same active protective enzymes found in saliva, providing optimal protection against any microbacteria.
You might have heard that breast milk is liquid gold, and is one of the best walls of protection against germs during the baby’s first years. Oral7 takes it up a notch by containing protective enzymes similar to those found in breast milk as well. The toothpaste is basically as natural as it gets, without compromising on effectiveness.
Another trick is to get a toothpaste that tastes yummy, which will help turn tooth brushing into a real treat. Oral7 baby toothpaste comes in a delicious apple flavour, and we bet your little bubs won’t be able to get enough!
Don’t be too quick to dish out the toothpaste, however; you won’t want to scare your kid off. As a general rule of thumb, a rice grain-sized smear is good for kiddos below the age of three, and a pea-sized dollop is enough for kids between the ages of three and six.

Once your kid hits four years old, they can graduate to the Oral7 kids toothpaste. Packing an antimicrobial punch with natural enzymes, this also contains 1,000ppm fluoride (as recommended by paediatric dentists) for strong teeth and winning smiles.
Can’t wait to get started? Grab Oral7 baby products from the comfort of your own home from Watsons, or MBD online stores. Otherwise, check out the products in the flesh at your friendly neighbourhood Watsons (available only in selected outlets, including Ngee Ann City, Parkway Parade, Jurong Point, Great World City), Nishino, Woods Pharmacy, Vitakids, NUH Pharmacy, and Singhealth Pharmacare stores.
This post is in partnership with M.B.D. Marketing.