Early Childhood Caries Prevention

It is never too early to start taking care of your child’s teeth. You can start practicing good oral hygiene as soon as your child is born.

Bottle Feeding

1. Always make sure that you hold your baby during feedings.
2. Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice, only water.
3. You can start cleaning your baby’s gum pads daily with a damp cloth or a special toothbrush, to remove any plaque or bacteria.

1-3 year old Teeth

1. As soon as the first tooth comes in around 9 months you can start cleaning it with water. You should also visit the dentist to put a fluoride varnish on the teeth that have grown in.
2. At the age of 2 you may start using fluoridated toothpaste on the child’s teeth.
3. You should only use a pea size amount of toothpaste when brushing your child’s teeth.
4. Make sure you are supervising your child when brushing their teeth.
5. Flossing may start when there are two teeth that are touching.

Keeping your Child’s Teeth Healthy

1. You should be making a yearly trip to the dentist to get your child’s teeth clean and have a fluoride varnish applied.
2. Your child should be making a routine of brushing his/her teeth at least twice a day.
3. A proper diet with lots of fruits and vegetables will keep teeth healthy.
4. Stay away from sugary and starchy foods as they can cause cavities.
5. Flossing should become a regular routine for your child.