Children's Dental Health

Clean your baby’s mouth at least twice a day; after each meal is ideal. Hold your child in a position that is comfortable for both of you and where you can easily see inside their mouth.
Wrap a clean gauze pad or soft cloth over your finger. Dip the gauze or cloth in water so it is damp, but not soaking wet then gently wipe your child's gums.
Pro Tip: Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle. The sugars contained in the milk or formula react with the body’s natural bacteria, eventually turning them into a mild acid. Allowing it to sit in the mouth for long periods of time can start to cause damage.
Pro Tip: Babies usually start teething around four to six months old. During this time, their gums might appear red and puffy, and they could drool more than usual. To help ease these symptoms, consider giving your little one a clean teething ring or a cold, damp washcloth. Cold temperatures can be really soothing, so you might want to cool down that teething ring in the fridge for added relief.

Continue cleaning your child’s gums after each feeding. When you notice that first tooth, start using a child’s soft bristled toothbrush, without toothpaste, in addition to massaging their gums.
By age 12 to 14 months, most children can drink from a cup. This is a great time to start weaning your baby from the bottle and introducing more solid foods. It’s never too early to promote healthy habits by limiting sugary foods and drinks.
Know what your child’s healthy teeth and gums look like. Make it a habit to check for suspicious small white or brown spots on his/her teeth. These could be early signs of cavities so, if you spot them, don't hesitate to schedule an appointment with us.
Schedule your child's first dental appointment by their first birthday or within 6 months after the first tooth comes in.
Pro Tip: Avoid testing the temperature of the bottle with your mouth, sharing utensils, or cleaning a pacifier or a bottle nipple by putting it in your mouth. Dental decay is an infectious transmissible disease that can lead to cavities.

By the time your little one reaches their first birthday, they should've already had their first dental checkup. If you haven't had the chance to introduce them to us by this age, give us a call. We're excited to meet your family!
Keep up the routine of brushing their teeth with a child’s soft bristled toothbrush and plain water. No toothpaste is needed just yet.
Continue checking their teeth and gums for white or brown spots. Remember, those spots can be indicators of cavities so you should schedule an appointment with us right away if you notice them.

Around the time your little one reaches about 2 ½ years old, all of their primary (baby) teeth should have come in. It's a good time to start weaning them off the pacifier and gently encouraging them to kick the thumb-sucking habit by the age of 3.
When your child reaches 2 years, introduce a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste when brushing their teeth. Teach them to spit out the toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
This is the age to begin teaching them how to brush their own teeth. Let them give it a try first, and then you can follow up to tackle any spots they might have missed.
Keep checking your child’s teeth and gums for those pesky white and brown spots. Since those can be early indicators of cavities, schedule an appointment with us right away if you notice any.
And remember, regular dental checkups are a must!

Around six years old is, typically, when kids start losing their baby teeth and getting their adult ones.
Continue to supervise them brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice per day, helping them brush the spots they may have missed on their own.
This is a great time to have a chat with your child about making smart food and drink choices at school. Encourage options like plain milk and water as the top picks, and discourage sugary drinks and sodas.
As your child gets older, encourage them to cut back on snacks between meals. Teach them that fruits and veggies are a healthier choice compared to candy, cookies, and chips.
Flossing can be a bit tricky for your kiddo until they're around 10 years old. Start by showing them how to floss the front teeth that are easy to reach. Once they've mastered that, they can move on to flossing the back teeth on their own. Flossers with handles might be easier for them to use compared to regular dental floss. Our team is more than happy to show both you and your child in the proper way to floss those pearly whites.

Infants Without Teeth