Age 0-2 Years
Early Dental Care for Babies
- Wipe your baby’s gums and emerging teeth after feedings to prevent bacteria build-up.
- Begin using a fluoride toothpaste in rice-grain size as soon as the first tooth appears.
- Maintain a twice-daily brushing routine, prioritizing morning and bedtime sessions.
- Floss between any teeth that touch to prevent cavities (a good rule of thumb: if a credit card doesn’t fit, it’s time to floss).
Advice for Parents and Caregivers
- Avoid sharing utensils or food that can transfer cavity-causing bacteria to your child.
- Ensure you also follow a regular dental care routine to set a good example.
- Take your baby to a pediatric dentist within 6 months of the first tooth erupting or by 1 year old for their first dental visit.
- Chew Xylitol gum three times daily to reduce the risk of transferring bacteria to your baby.
Optimal Diet for Dental Health
- Avoid putting your baby to sleep with a bottle of sweetened liquids to prevent early cavities.
- Choose teeth-friendly foods like milk, yogurt, cheese, vegetables, and meat over starchy snacks.
- Drinking a sip of water after snacks can reduce the risk of cavities.
- Prefer unprocessed over processed foods to minimize cavity risk.
- Limit snacking frequency to avoid prolonged exposure of teeth to food particles.
- Encourage rinsing with water after meals and snacks for additional oral hygiene.
Healthy Oral Habits
- Always clean your baby’s mouth after feeding to avoid residue that can cause decay.
- Aim to wean your child off thumb-sucking or pacifier use ideally by 18 months, but latest by age 3, for optimal dental development.
This guide is based on evidence-based practices recommended by pediatric dental experts to ensure your child maintains a healthy smile from infancy through toddler years and beyond. By following these simple steps, you can lay a strong foundation for your child's oral health and prevent common dental issues.
Age 3-5 Years
Early Childhood Oral Care
- Continue using a fluoride toothpaste in the amount of a rice grain until age 3.
- Transition to a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste after age 3.
- Supervise brushing twice a day, ensuring morning and bedtime routines.
- Adult supervision is necessary for brushing until children can tie their shoes or use utensils confidently, focusing on hard-to-reach molar areas.
- Floss between teeth that touch, using the credit card test as a guide.
Parent and Caregiver Oral Health Tips
- Avoid sharing utensils or food that could transfer cavity-causing bacteria to children.
- Maintain your dental health with regular care to set a positive example.
- Schedule your child’s first dentist visit between 6 months and 1 year of age.
- Chewing Xylitol gum can help reduce the risk of passing bacteria to your child.
Nutritional Advice for Healthy Teeth
- Only put water in bottles at bedtime to avoid cavity risks associated with juice or milk.
- Encourage sipping water after snacking to dramatically lower cavity risks by flushing the teeth.
- Prefer natural snacks like milk, yogurt, cheese, vegetables, and meat over sugary or starchy foods.
- Choose unprocessed foods over processed options for overall dental health.
- Regularly rinsing with water after eating or drinking can protect against cavities.
Guidance on Oral Habits
- Weaning off thumb-sucking or pacifier use ideally by 18 months, but latest by age 3, is ideal to prevent dental growth issues and the potential need for braces.
- Discuss any oral habits with your dentist for personalized advice.
- This guide offers evidence-based practices to ensure your child’s oral health is on the right track from infancy through their school years.
Age 6 Years & Older
Daily Brushing and Flossing Techniques
- Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for daily brushing.
- Engage in brushing or taking turns brushing with your child twice a day for best practices.
- Ensure adult supervision during brushing until children master self-care skills, focusing on thorough cleaning of back molar areas.
- Emphasize morning and bedtime brushing, avoiding food and drink afterward, except water.
- Floss between teeth that touch, applying the credit card test to decide necessity.
Guidance for Parents and Caregivers
- Schedule dentist visits every 6 months for consistent dental health monitoring.
- Maintain your dental health with regular care to serve as a role model for your child.
Nutritional Recommendations for Dental Health
- Limit juice and sweetened beverages to reduce sugar exposure on teeth.
- Choose teeth-friendly snacks such as milk, yogurt, cheese, vegetables, and meat over sugary or starchy alternatives.
- Opt for unprocessed foods over processed foods to minimize cavity risk.
- Minimize snacking frequency to avoid prolonged exposure of teeth to potential cavity-causing foods.
- Drinking a sip of water after snacking can decrease the likelihood of cavities by flushing the teeth.
Managing Oral Habits to Prevent Orthodontic Issues
- Discuss habits like thumb/finger sucking, mouth breathing, grinding, and nail biting with your dentist to prevent abnormal bite development and the potential need for braces.
- Following these evidence-based oral care guidelines can help ensure your child maintains healthy teeth and gums. Regular dental check-ups, proper brushing and flossing techniques, a balanced diet, and managing oral habits are crucial steps in preventing dental problems and promoting overall oral health from an early age.
