Caring for Your Baby’s Teeth

Taking good care of baby’s first teeth is an important step in the health of permanent teeth.^1,3 Here are some key dental care tips:

• Don't let your child fall asleep while sucking a bottle that contains milk, formula, or sweet fluids.³ If you let sugary fluids sit in the baby’s mouth, you increase the likelihood of tooth decay.^1,3

• Limit sugary beverages. Unsweetened fruit juices, teas, and water are best, according to the American Academy of General Dentistry.² At bedtime, only offer water.

• Before teeth come in, clean gums after feedings, using a damp washcloth.^2,3

• Once teeth erupt, brush with water and a soft toothbrush every day.^2,3 By age 2, or by the time your child can spit, use a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste.^2,3

• Take your child for a first dental visit within six months of the first tooth eruption, and no later than the first birthday.^2,3,4

¹ “How Do I Care for My Child’s Baby Teeth?” Academy of General Dentistry. February 2007. www.agd.org/support/articles/?ArtID=1173. Accessed 2010.

² “Is My Child at Risk for Early Childhood Tooth Decay?” Academy of General Dentistry. February 2007. www.agd.org/support/articles/?ArtID=1175. Accessed 2010.

³ “Tooth Eruption: The Primary Teeth.” Journal of the American Dental Association. November 2005, vol. 136, p. 1619. http://www.ada.org/sections/scienceAndResearch/pdfs/patient_56.pdf. Accessed 2010.

⁴ “Baby Teeth.” American Dental Association. www.ada.org/2850.aspx?currentTab=2. Accessed 2010.