How to...look after your baby's teeth

Your child's teeth are precious. So every mum needs a tooth care regime for her baby... And we have the perfect starter guide

When will her first teeth come through?

Your baby's born with teeth in place in her gums, which will start coming  through at about six months, although it varies from baby to baby. Some still have no teeth at one year, but most of her teeth will be through when she's two and a half.

Teething has no bearing on general development. Girls often teethe earlier than boys and if you were a late teether, your baby may be as well. Although they come out at different rates, her teeth will usually appear in the same pattern.

When should I start brushing her teeth?

As soon as your baby's first teeth appear, you should start brushing twice a day using a soft baby toothbrush and a pea-sized blob of baby toothpaste.

Remember to brush after the last drink of the day. If your baby refuses to open her mouth for toothpaste, try using a clean finger instead and reintroduce the brush later.

The aim of brushing is to remove any plaque, which could combine with sugary substances in the mouth to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. Healthy first teeth are important as they keep your child's gums and jaw in good shape, ready for her second teeth. Toothache or the removal of decayed teeth can be painful and upsetting for your child, and can be so easily avoided.

As your child gets older let her have a go at brushing her own teeth. Make sure she doesn't eat toothpaste as too much floride is bad for the teeth - when she's finished show her how to rinse her mouth with water.

You'll need to clean your child's teeth for her or supervise brushing until she is around seven years old.

Make brushing fun

Try these tactics to avoid toothbrushing tantrums:

* Let her choose her own toothbrush - there are lots of fun designs
* Ask her to clean your teeth while you clean hers!
* Let her watch herself in the mirror while she's brushing