Protecting your child’s smile is a full-time job. From birth to the school years to adolescence and beyond, you need to care for their teeth and gums as well as teach them about the importance of oral health care. The following information will help you accomplish these goals at each stage of development.
Infancy
It’s never too early to start dental care. Gently clean your baby’s gums with a damp rag to remove plaque from the gums. As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush. To prevent baby bottle mouth, never put your child to sleep with milk or juice.
The Toddler Years
At this point, you should help your child brush their teeth twice daily. Until age two or three, use training toothpaste so that they don’t ingest too much fluoride and develop fluorosis, white spots on teeth from overexposure to fluoride. Most dentists recommend that you begin regular dental checkups by the time your child turns three.
School-Age Children
By six or seven, your children should be able to brush and floss teeth by themselves, but you may need to inspect their work. Children in this group need to use fluoride toothpaste to help prevent cavities. Encourage your kids to brush for at least two minutes.
Tweens and Teens
Older kids often have busy lives, so make sure dental care remains a priority. Ask your dentist to help reinforce the need for good home hygiene because often tweens and teens listen more intently to the information when it comes from a source other than their parents.
