Every stage of your child’s life comes with different needs and important milestones. This is particularly true when it comes to taking good care of their teeth. Good dental care begins before your baby pops out that first little tooth bud, and the more you know, the better job you can do (or help them do) at every stage of their teeth development and care.
From about four months to two years
Before teeth:
Prevent the build up of decay-causing plaque by regularly cleaning your newborn’s gums with a soft, damp cloth after they nurse or have a bottle.
When first tooth appears:
Use a small, soft toothbrush specifically designed for babies and brush that tooth (or teeth) for about two minutes twice a day, using a tiny dab of toothpaste.
By their first birthday:
Bring your baby in to see the dentist and begin their regular six month visits to make sure teeth are developing properly and there is no plaque beginning to build-up.
Call for an appointment: (800) 717-5437
From two to four years
Toothpaste:
By two, you can begin letting them use a fun, kid-tested and kid-friendly fluoridated toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay.
Continue to supervise:
Until your child has learned how to brush and floss properly and has established good oral care habits, you should “help” them brush and brush your own teeth with them. That means making sure they’re getting every tooth, front and back, and that they’re brushing for two minutes, twice a day. It can help to sing a silly song while they’re brushing that lasts about two minutes, such as the ABCs or “Twinkle, twinkle, little star.”
Good nutrition:
Healthy eating (and drinking) is essential to good oral health, so help your children make good food choices for meals and snacks and work hard to help them avoid sugar. And it’s important that babies don’t go to bed with a bottle or juice cup.
Soon they’ll be doing it on their own
Establish good dental habits from the day their born, and your kids will be ready to take over their own care sooner than you can believe.
