Protect Your Child’s Teeth at Home

As a parent, you are in partnership with the dentist to protect your child’s teeth. Here are some tips for healthy dental hygiene as your child grows:

• Before teeth erupt, wipe your baby's gums after each feeding.¹

• Once your baby’s teeth erupt, brush them at least once daily, preferably at bedtime.²

• Prevent baby-bottle tooth decay: Don't give your child a bottle of milk, juice, or sweetened liquid at bedtime or when put down to nap.¹

• Discourage thumb sucking after age 4. Prolonged thumb sucking can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems.¹

• Introduce a pea-sized dab of fluoridated toothpaste after 2 years of age, once the child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.²

• Help your child brush properly twice daily until he or she has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone. Then, continue to closely watch brushing to make sure a thorough job is done.³

• Avoid foods and treats that increase tooth decay: hard or sticky candies, fruit leather, and sweetened drinks and juice. Offer fruit rather than juice; fruit is nutritious, whereas juice just exposes the teeth to sugar.⁴

¹ “Dental Care for Your Baby.” American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/babycare.asp Accessed 2010.

² “Pediatric Oral Health Information for Parents: Frequently Asked Questions.” American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. http://www.aapd.org/pediatricinformation/faq.asp Accessed 2010.

³ “Brush Up on Healthy Teeth.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/pdfs/BrushUpTips.pdf Accessed 2010.

⁴ “Diet and Snacking.” American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/snacking.asp Accessed 2010.