Baby and toddler oral health

Good oral health care starts in infancy. It is key in the early childhood years to set your child up for good oral health during their life.

The Australian Dental Association recommends children visit the dentist for the first time when the first teeth arrive in their mouth. 

Baby teeth are the teeth you have during childhood. These teeth begin developing while your baby is still in the womb.

Baby teeth often start to appear around 9 months old. However, this can range 3 to 12 months.  However, if your child does not have any teeth by 12 months of age, it is best to have a check-up with a dentist. It is normal for the teeth to arrive in any order. But the middle bottom teeth are often first. All 20 baby teeth usually arrive by age 3.

Sometimes a baby can be born with a tooth. This is called a natal tooth. 

See the below guide for when you can expect the different teeth to appear.

Symptoms of teething

Your baby may show symptoms of teething as early as 3 months old. Symptoms can include:

• drooling

• rubbing the gums

• being more irritable than usual

• mouthing objects

• biting.

Some symptoms should not be linked to teething straight away. These can include:

• difficulty sleeping

• a loss of appetite

• coughing

• rashes

• diarrhea

• vomiting

• seizures

• a very high fever.

It is best to see your doctor if your child has these symptoms to rule out other illnesses.

When your child is teething, it can be difficult to make them comfortable. Some suggestions include:

• attention and cuddles

• teething rings or washcloths that are cold but not frozen

• rubbing the back of a cold spoon over their gums

• giving them a dummy.

Teething gels

Cold teething gels can help at first. But this may only last for a short amount of time. This is because the gel gets washed away by saliva . Babies can swallow the teething gel placed on the gums and it can be hard to know how much they have swallowed. This can make the throat numb becoming a choking hazard.

Dummies dipped in sugary spread

Do not dip a dummy in sugary spreads such as honey or jam. This can increase your child's risk of tooth decay if they already have teeth. 
Beaded necklaces or bracelets can be a choking hazard and they are unlikely to help with pain. 

Amber beads

Beaded necklaces or bracelets can be a choking hazard and they are unlikely to help with pain. 

Before you introduce a toothbrush, you may like to use a clean, damp washcloth or muslin cloth to clean your baby's gums.

Start using a toothbrush around 6 months of age or when your baby gets their first tooth. You will need to brush their teeth for them but let them have a turn also.  

You can check your child’s teeth at home by lifting their top lip and rolling down their bottom lip to look at their teeth. Make an appointment with your dentist if you see white, brown, or black spots on the teeth that do not come off. These spots can be a sign of tooth decay.

This does not replace a check-up by a dentist.

Where can my child get a dental check-up?

Your child may be eligible to attend a government dental clinic.

If you get a government payment, such as Family Tax Benefit A, your child may be able to use the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. This program provides children with access to $1,095 of dental care. This can include:

• examinations

• x-rays

• professional dental cleans

• fissure sealants

• fillings

• root canal treatment

• tooth extractions.  

Children can use the CDBS at government dental clinics and private dental clinics. You can check if your child is eligible using myGov.