Parents often ask me when the right time is to begin a child’s oral hygiene routine and whether baby teeth are really so important if they will eventually be replaced by permanent ones.

My answer is always the same: it is never too early to care for oral health.

You can start caring for your child’s mouth even before the first tooth appears. After feeding, gently wipe the gums with soft, damp gauze or a clean cotton cloth. This helps children become accustomed to oral care from an early age while also removing food residue.

When the first baby teeth appear, most often the lower incisors, I recommend brushing twice a day with a soft children’s toothbrush. We now know that using children’s fluoride toothpaste is also important for protecting teeth, but only in a very small amount appropriate for the child’s age. Your dentist will be happy to advise you on the toothpaste most suitable for your child.

Baby teeth play a much more important role than we often realise. They enable proper chewing and speech development, preserve space for permanent teeth and have an important influence on their correct eruption. They therefore deserve the same care as permanent teeth.

Pay particular attention to drinks as well. For thirst, I always recommend water, as sweetened juices, fizzy drinks and frequent drinking of sweet beverages from a bottle considerably increase the risk of early childhood tooth decay.

Many parents are also surprised by the period around the age of six. Most expect permanent incisors to emerge, but the first permanent molars, known as six-year molars, often appear first. Because they grow behind the baby teeth and do not replace any of them, parents sometimes mistake them for baby teeth. Yet these teeth remain with us for life, which is why it is important to clean them carefully from the very first day. This is also why we often recommend fissure sealing, which can provide additional protection for their chewing surfaces against tooth decay.

There is one more thing I like to tell parents. Children usually have not yet developed the motor skills needed to clean their teeth thoroughly on their own. I therefore recommend helping them with brushing or supervising it until they can do it reliably and carefully. For most children, this is around the age of ten.

Finally, I would like to encourage regular preventive check-ups. Children who visit the dentist from an early age and have no experience of pain generally see the practice as a friendly place. This is the best foundation for a healthy relationship with oral health in adulthood.

And if they leave at the end of the visit with a smile and a hand full of stamps, the experience is even better.