When babies are born almost all of their teeth are already formed and remain hidden in the gums.  They begin to cut through when the baby is about 6 months but this can be earlier or later in some children.  All children develop at their own pace.

The first to come through tend to be the bottom two front teeth.  Then come the top four front teeth and the rest of the mouth then gradually fills up.  Most children have all their baby teeth by the age of three.

Do not be alarmed if the teeth have spaces between them.  As there is a difference in the size of the baby and adult teeth, there may be gaps.  The spaces make it easier to brush the teeth too.

Although baby teeth eventually fall out, they are important because:

• They help the child eat and chew
• They help the child speak correctly
• They prepare for the adult teeth
• They guide the adult teeth into position

Caring for your baby's teeth:-

• Brush with a soft baby tooth brush twice a day
• Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste specially designed for babies
• Start by brushing the teeth yourself and then allow the child the chance to brush on their own; get into the habit of brushing twice a day

Babies teeth begin to emerge from around 6 months, and from this point on, their teeth require a lifetime of good care.  Tooth decay is caused by long term exposure of teeth to sugars and acid from food so brushing teeth after each meal and especially before bedtime becomes very important.  If you brush at this point, you will remove the sugars that remain after a feed or a meal.  Sugars are found naturally in most foods that we eat, including formula and breast milk.

You should start taking your children to the dentist from the age of two - make this a positive experience for your children by explaining that the dentist will look after your child's teeth and tell them how important good oral care is so that they make the dentist really proud.  Sing a song while you brush your children's teeth, this will make it fun, but more importantly will help them to brush for the required 2 - 3 minutes.  Tooth brushing timers are also available to help brush for the right duration.

Toddlers should use a small headed toothbrush with soft nylon bristles; children's toothbrushes will state an age suitability so make sure you have the right toothbrushes for your children.  Up to the age of 3, children should use a toothpaste with 1000ppm fluoride; after that their toothpaste should contain 1350 - 1500ppm of fluoride.  All toothpastes state their fluoride content so again, make sure you are using a  suitable toothpaste.  Discourage your child from swallowing the toothpaste during brushing because fluoride is toxic.