At Be Well Dental, we know a healthy smile starts well before the first tooth appears, and continues through every stage of a child’s development. For Dental Health Week 2025, Dr. Bao has created a five-part blog and vblog series with simple, practical advice to help you support your child’s oral health from birth to beyond.
Birth to First Tooth – Healthy Habits Start Before Teeth
Even before that first little tooth pops through, your baby’s oral health matters.
Oral care should begin at birth, even before teeth appear. Milk and formula leave sugars on the gums, which can feed bacteria. A simple tip is to gently wipe your baby’s gums with a clean, damp cloth after feeding. This helps keep the mouth clean and gets your baby used to daily oral care.
It is recommended by the Australian Dental Association to schedule your child’s first dental visit by age one or when the first tooth erupts. This early visit is more about building familiarity than treatment, creating a positive foundation for future visits.
From a developmental perspective, the first months are also when babies begin developing essential oral functions like sucking, swallowing, and breathing. These lay the foundation for future jaw and airway growth.
If possible, breastfeeding can encourage proper tongue movement and jaw development. If you experience challenges with feeding, reach out to your Child Health Nurse or lactation consultant for support.
Avoid prolonged use of dummies or bottles, which can affect the shape of the palate and influence tongue posture. Encourage nasal breathing and keep an eye out for signs of congestion. Nasal breathing not only supports healthy facial development but also improves sleep quality and overall health.
First Tooth to 18 Months — That First Tooth Deserves a Great Start
Once your baby’s first tooth appears, it’s time to start brushing twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny smear of age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste, especially after the last feed at night.
Try to avoid putting your baby to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice, as this can significantly increase the risk of early childhood tooth decay.
If you haven’t booked your child’s first dental visit yet, now is a great time. The goal is to gently introduce your child to the dental team and environment. Your dentist can also observe early signs of oral dysfunction, crowding, or other concerns that can be addressed early.
Baby teeth play a vital role in guiding adult teeth into place and supporting proper growth of the jaw, lips, cheeks, and tongue, all of which affect speech, function, and future alignment.
Tips to support healthy growth:
- Avoid food pouches. Encourage chewing and self-feeding to build jaw strength.
- Introduce textured, age-appropriate solids to stimulate the tongue and chewing muscles.
- Encourage mindful eating - keep the mouth closed while chewing, and chew thoroughly.
- Reinforce good oral posture when at rest: lips closed, tongue to the roof of the mouth, and breathing through the nose.
- Discourage prolonged thumb or dummy sucking beyond this stage.
18 Months to 6 Years – Establish good habits.
By this stage, most children will have a full set of baby teeth, and those teeth need daily care.
We understand how tricky it can be to brush a toddler or young child’s teeth. Many children first come to us at this age with significant decay, often requiring treatment under general anaesthetic. That’s why it’s important to make brushing and flossing a non-negotiable part of the daily routine.
Children understand boundaries. If you consistently show that brushing is expected, they will learn that it's just part of the day.
Explain the “why” behind toothbrushing in a way they understand. For example:
“If we don’t brush our teeth, germs grow and cause holes. Your teeth can start to crumble and hurt — and it might be hard to eat your favourite foods. But if we take care of them, they’ll stay strong.”
Make brushing fun and positive. Use a favourite song, a visual timer, or a sticker chart. Be a good role model and brush your teeth together.
Let them have a go first, then follow up to finish the job properly. Flossing should also be introduced at this stage.
Continue to encourage nasal breathing, lips together, and tongue to the roof of the mouth.
Around age 5 or 6, your child may begin losing their baby teeth and getting new adult teeth, so keep those gold coins ready for the Tooth Fairy!
From 6 Years Old – Big Teeth, Big Changes
Around age six, most children will start to lose their baby teeth and get their first permanent molars. These molars come in behind the baby teeth, so unless you look, you might not notice them.
This is a crucial time to build strong hygiene habits. These new teeth are meant to last a lifetime.
Daily tips:
- Brush twice a day for two minutes using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss daily, especially between newly emerged adult teeth.
- Reduce the frequency of sugary snacks and drinks.
- Encourage water as the go-to drink between meals.
- Visit the dentist regularly to monitor growth, development, and prevent future problems.
It’s also a key window for facial and airway development. Many parents don’t realise how breathing and jaw growth are closely linked.
Watch for signs such as:
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring
- Teeth grinding
- Dark circles under the eyes
These can be early signs of airway or jaw development concerns. Speak with your dentist or GP if you’re concerned. Early intervention can make a big difference.
From 8 Years Old – Growing Smiles Need Support
By age eight, your child’s mouth is a blend of baby and adult teeth, and their smile is continuing to change rapidly. This is a key stage for jaw development, airway health, and setting up for future alignment.
A dental check-up at this age may include:
- Orthodontic screening
- Habit assessments (tongue posture, swallowing, breathing)
- Monitoring crowding, arch development, and jaw relationships
Children can usually brush more independently at this stage, but parental supervision is still important. A two-minute timer can help them stay on track.
It’s also a great time to continue building conversations around personal care. Oral hygiene can be linked to other self-care routines like showering, hair brushing, and dressing.
If your child plays contact sports, consider investing in a custom-fit mouthguard. These offer far better protection than store-bought versions and can help prevent costly injuries.
At Be Well Dental, we are passionate about supporting and optimising children’s natural growth potential.
We are a family-oriented practice, with most of us having our own children, so we can empathise with parents about the challenges that families face with daily routines. If you would like your child to have a thorough dental examination and oral myofunctional assessment, please reach out to our team by calling on 07 3846 2002 or book an appointment online.
We look forward to journeying with you and your child through the different stages of your child’s dental development!