Toddler Oral Health Care

• Baby teeth are important. Tooth decay in baby teeth can be painful and can cause health problems like infections. A clean and germ-free mouth is a healthy place for teeth to grow.
• Good dental habits should begin before the first tooth appears. After feedings, clean your baby’s gums with a clean damp washcloth or gently brush your baby’s gums using water on a baby toothbrush with soft bristles. Remember, a clean and germ-free mouth is a healthy place for teeth to grow.
• Put your baby to bed with hugs and love, not a bottle. Sleeping with a bottle of formula or juice is a leading cause of cavities in young children.
• Only put breast milk, formula or plain water in your baby’s bottle. Sweet drinks like Gatorade, Kool-Aid and soda pop have sugar that causes cavities and should not be put in the bottle.
• Cavities are caused by germs that your baby gets from you. Clean pacifiers with warm soapy water not with your mouth; don’t share spoons and cups with your baby; and don’t share pacifiers or bottles with other babies. To keep your mouth clean, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
• Strong baby teeth start with you. Moms with good oral health are more likely to have healthy babies with good oral health. Moms can limit the risk of early childhood tooth decay by making sure their own teeth are clean and healthy. To keep your mouth clean, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste 2 times a day and have regular dental check-ups.

• Baby teeth are important. Tooth decay in baby teeth can be painful and can cause health problems like infections. A clean and germ-free mouth is a healthy place for teeth to grow. Your baby will get their first tooth around 6 months.
• Brush your baby’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Brush your baby’s teeth 2 times a day with a small smear of fluoride toothpaste on a baby toothbrush (about the size of a grain of rice). The best times to brush are before bed and after breakfast. Try putting your baby’s head in your lap to make it easier to brush their teeth.
• Put your baby to bed with hugs and love, not a bottle. Sleeping with a bottle of formula or juice is a leading cause of cavities in young children. If you must give your baby a bottle at bedtime or naps, fill it with water only.
• Only put breast milk, formula or plain water in your baby’s bottle. Sweet drinks like Gatorade, Kool-Aid, and soda pop have sugar that causes cavities and should not be put in the bottle.
• Lift the lip and look. Babies change quickly. Every month, lift your baby’s lip and check all their teeth for the first signs of cavities. If you see white or brown spots on the teeth or anything unusual, contact your baby’s dentist or physician.
• Ask your doctor or nurse if your baby needs fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that is painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and help stop cavities that have already started.
• First visit by first birthday – schedule your baby’s first dental check-up. When your baby turns 1 year, schedule a dental check-up for your baby. If you do not have a dentist, ask your physician to check your baby’s teeth.

• Baby teeth are important. Tooth decay in baby teeth can be painful and can cause health problems like infections. A clean and germ-free mouth is a healthy place for teeth to grow.
• Brush your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Brush your child’s teeth 2 times a day with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste on a baby or child toothbrush. The best times to brush are before bed and after breakfast. Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste. Do not rinse after brushing, it removes the protective fluoride.
• Put your child to bed with hugs and love, not a bottle. Stop using bottles when your baby turns one. If a child won’t sleep without a bottle, give them a bottle of plain water. Water will not harm their teeth.
• Rethink the drink. Give your child milk or water with meals. Avoid giving Kool-Aid, Gatorade, Sunny Delight, Capri Sun, soda, or other sweet drinks to your child – they cause cavities.
• Eat well. Give your child healthy snacks like cheese, vegetable sticks, and fresh fruit. Keep sweet foods like cakes, pastries, and candy for special treats, not every day.
• Lift the lip and look. Children change quickly. Every month, lift your child’s lip and check all their teeth for the first signs of cavities. If you see white or brown spots on the teeth or anything unusual, contact your baby’s dentist or physician.
• Ask your doctor or nurse if your child needs fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that is painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and help stop cavities that have already started.
• Take your child to the dentist. When your baby turns 1 year, schedule a dental check-up for your baby. Children should see the dentist at least once a year, more often if they have had cavities. If you do not have a dentist, ask your physician to check your child’s teeth

Baby teeth are important. Tooth decay in baby teeth can be painful and can cause health problems like infections. A clean and germ-free mouth is a healthy place for teeth to grow.
Brush! Help our child brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste.

Help brush your child’s teeth 2 times a day with a small dab of fluoride toothpaste on a child toothbrush. The best times to brush are before bed and after breakfast. Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste. Do not rinse after brushing, it removes the protective fluoride.

Eat well. Give your child healthy snacks like cheese, vegetable sticks, and fresh fruit. Keep sweet foods like cakes, pastries and candy for special treats not everyday.

Rethink the drink. Give your child milk or water with meals. Avoid giving Kool-Aid, Gatorade, Sunny Delight, Capri Sun, soda, or other sweet drinks to your child – they cause cavities.

Lift the lip and look. Children change quickly. Every month, lift your child’s lip and check all their teeth for the first signs of cavities. If you see white or brown spots on the teeth or anything unusual, contact your child’s dentist or physician.

Ask your dentist or doctor if your child needs fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that is painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and help stop cavities that have already started.

Take your child to the dentist. Children should see the dentist at least once a year, more often if they have had cavities.