By Kate Wicker

Reece Johnson was born with a head full of hair, rosy cheeks, and one lovely, little tooth. “I see other babies her age smile and I think, where’s their tooth? I’m just so used to her toothy grin,” says Sara Johnson of Overland Park, KS, who made a visit to the dentist with her one-toothed wonder at just 12 days old.

Chances are, you won’t be making any early visits to the dentist—natal teeth, or teeth that are present at birth, only appear in 1 of every 2,000 to 3,000 births—but it’s never too early to begin thinking about protecting your baby’s smile. To get you started, here the professionals’ answers to some common questions.

When should I expect to see my baby’s first tooth?
Unless you’ve got a toothy prodigy like Reece on your hands, you can generally expect to see that first tooth pop up anywhere between 4 and 12 months.

What are symptoms of teething?
Despite common mommy folklore that teething causes high fevers and diarrhea, there’s no research to back this up. But there may be another explanation for the symptoms: “Since children tend to have their hands in their mouths more often when teething, they have the opportunity to acquire an illness through sharing of germs,” says Linda Murzyn-Dantzer, D.M.D., an assistant professor of pediatric dentistry at The Children’s Hospital in Aurora, CO.

According to Murzyn-Dantzer, typical teething symptoms do include increased biting, drooling, gum rubbing, and sucking. Other signs that your baby is teething include irritability, wakefulness, ear tugging, a facial rash, a decreased appetite, and/or a low-grade fever.

What can I do to alleviate pain associated with teething?
“Different remedies work for different children, but I’ve found cooled teething rings or washcloths to be most helpful. Rubbing gums with a clean finger is also soothing,” Murzyn-Dantzer says.

If your baby has a fever, you can use children’s acetaminophen, but check the dosage for your baby with your pediatrician first. Topical anesthetics can be helpful as well but, according to Murzyn-Dantzer, they may lead to increased drooling and some babies don’t like the taste.

Will my baby’s teeth get in the way of nursing?
A baby who is latched on correctly and actively nursing cannot bite. That said, some teething babies may clamp down on your nipple when they’ve just latched on or are finished nursing as means of comfort. You can likely nip this nipping in the bud with these tips from La Leche League International:

• Use positive reinforcement: Praise your baby when she breastfeeds without biting.

• Allow your baby to choose when to breastfeed. She’s less likely to bite if she’s really hungry and not distracted.

• Offer a teething ring and say, “Mommy is not for biting. Bite this.”

When do I start brushing my baby’s teeth?
“It’s a good idea to clean your baby’s mouth every day even before teeth appear,” says Ilisa Wommack, a registered dental hygienist in Stone Mountain, GA. “Use a warm, wet washcloth to gently wipe gums once a day. Teeth should be brushed with an extra soft toothbrush morning and night.”

You don’t need to use any fancy toothpaste—brushing with water is fine. In fact, fluoride toothpaste is not recommended before age 2. “Training toothpaste [fluoride-free toothpaste designed for children under 2] is OK,” Wommack says, “but use only a pea-sized amount.”

If you’re wondering why you need to make such a fuss over teeth that end up in Tooth-Fairy Land, consider this: “Primary [baby] teeth are present in the mouth a long time before they fall out—about five years. They can decay very rapidly and when decay reaches the inside of the tooth, the child feels pain that can be severe,” Wommack says. What’s more, children who have cavities as babies are much more likely to have problems with their permanent teeth, Wommack adds.

Especially important: Don’t let your child fall sleep with a bottle of milk or juice, as this is one of the major causes of early tooth decay.

When should I take my child to the dentist for the first time?
The recommended age for an initial dentist visit varies from the appearance of a first tooth to age 3, according to Wommack. But many pediatric dentists recommend you go in sooner rather than later. “This first visit really is a ‘well-baby checkup’ for teeth and a chance for parent education, and is as important as seeing your pediatrician,” Wommack advises. “Prevention is key to a healthy, functional mouth.”

Kate Wicker brushes her own teeth and her daughters’ daily, but sometimes she forgets to take a shower. Read about her life in the parenting trenches at momopoly.blogspot.com.