Baby teeth don't need treatment? A big misconception.

Among parents, the myth persists that baby teeth don't need to be treated because they will fall out anyway. However, this is a major misconception that can have serious consequences for the health of permanent teeth. Care of baby teeth is essential — untreated decay can spread deep into the tissues, cause pain, inflammation, and damage the germ of the permanent tooth developing beneath the baby tooth. Moreover, baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth, contribute to proper speech development, and influence jaw development.

When to start cleaning

It is advisable to begin caring for the oral cavity from the first erupted tooth, usually around six months of age. Initially, it is sufficient to wipe the tooth once a day with a damp gauze or a special silicone finger cover. Once the child has more teeth, transition to a soft children's toothbrush with a small head. From the first tooth, it is recommended to use fluoride toothpaste — in the smallest children in an amount the size of a grain of rice, from age three the size of a pea.

Proper cleaning technique

In children, a combination of sweeping movements from the gum toward the biting surface is recommended, and in older children a gradual transition to the Bass technique, which involves small circular or vibrational movements at a 45-degree angle to the gum. It is important to clean systematically — always in the same order so that no surface is overlooked. Cleaning should last at least two minutes and occur twice daily, ideally in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before bed.

Finishing by the parent

Children up to approximately eight to ten years old do not have sufficiently developed fine motor skills to clean their teeth perfectly on their own. The parent should therefore always check the child's cleaning and finish the areas the child cannot reach — especially the inner surfaces of the teeth and the back molars. Joint cleaning also builds positive habits and a lifelong relationship with dental care.