Pop quiz from the op this morning: which primary teeth usually erupt first, and at about what age? I say lower central incisors around 6–10 months, and I use that milestone to coach parents to switch from a soft washcloth to a rice-grain smear of fluoride paste — anyone teach it differently for extra-wiggly, anxious toddlers?
Lower centrals first for me too, but I warn parents preemies can lag a couple months; with extra-wiggly kids I do knee-to-knee with a silicone finger brush and call it ‘tickle the sugar bugs,’ then graduate to a soft brush with the ‘rice-grain smear’ (AAPD: Overview). Do you find mirror play helps?
Before Q1, add a 10-minute ‘phantom positioning drill’ and log repeat causes; pair with IAEA dental modules: Dental radiology - X-rays | IAEA.
Agree on 6–10 months and the switch to a “rice-grain smear,” but for wigglers I do 10-second count-and-swap passes — lift the lip with a clean finger, quick sweep with the tiny brush, then hand them a cold teether as a reward. Small caveat: every so often the maxillary centrals sneak in first, and I tell parents that’s still normal.