Playing the role of dentist is just one of the countless responsibilities bestowed upon parents.

Townsville dentist therapist Karen Ward said it was important parents took good care of their baby's first set of pearly whites.

The reward was worth it - a lifetime of gorgeous smiles.

Ms Ward said from the early stages of teething, which for most babies happened after six months, parents needed to be able to safely remove bacterial plaque, food debris and mouth acids daily.
Ms Ward said there were several simple measures to ensure children could enjoy a clean bill of oral health.

Teething can be a painful experience for infants but it is important that parents start brushing their child's teeth as soon as they appear, Ms Ward said. There can be some challenges in brushing teeth from an early age, such as a negative reaction to the flavours of toothpaste, discomfort due to the roughness and size of toothbrushes and difficulty for parents to reach the back teeth.

Ms Ward, of Townsville dental group 1300SMILES, said that initially it might be easier to use a small, soft cloth with water to remove the plaque film, but as the child grows, they could progress to a small, soft toothbrush with fine bristles. She recommended using a smear of low fluoride toothpaste such as Colgate's My First Toothpaste, Maclean's Milk Teeth, or Oral B's Bananas in Pajamas.

When brushing your child's teeth it may be easier to lay your toddler in your lap with their head resting against your arm in a cradling position, as this gives you more control and makes your baby feel safe and secure, Ms Ward said.

Use a circular or jiggling motion on the inside and outside surfaces of the teeth ensuring that the gums are reached in both arches. It's important to brush the teeth all the way to the back of the mouth as well as behind the lower front teeth, where plaque accumulates and goes hard quickly. As many toddlers cannot avoid swallowing the toothpaste, a peasized amount of low fluoride paste is essential for children aged between two and six years.

Children under the age of two years should use little or no toothpaste. Ms Ward said it was just as important to take children in for dental check-ups from an early age to familiarise them with the operator and dental environment.

Most dentists will be happy to discuss potential issues relating to teething, thumb sucking, orthodontic concerns, medical issues and influences of medication as well as daily preventative routines and fluoride supplementation.