Your baby can be registered with a dentist from six months old, and some dentists will check teeth when they start to come through. Dental care is free to under-18s and is recommended that you get your child's teeth checked every three to six months. Taking your baby to the dentist at an early age will also help him to get used to the idea and develop good dental habits.
healthy teeth checklist
Avoid sugary food and drinks. Research has shown that frequent sugar exposure is the main factor in dietary habits that causes tooth decay
Don't put juices in bottles. Even pure natural juice contains sugar that can cause decay in your baby's new teeth when given in a bottle the juice constantly coats the teeth in sugar
Brush in small circles. Be sure to get the tops, bottoms, fronts and backs of their teeth and gums
Don't keep your child's toothbrush for more than three months or after the bristles have started to spread out
Always use low-fluoride baby/child-friendly toothpaste
Visit your dentist regularly to ensure good dental health and development
Use sugar-free medicines. Sugar should be listed on the ingredients label of the medicine. Other names for sugar are: glucose, sucrose, dextrose, maltose, fructose, honey, hydrolysed starch, or syrup. If in doubt, check with your GP or pharmacist
If there's no sign of a tooth by his first birthday, have a chat with your health visitor.