Birth to six months of age:

It is crucial to take care of your child's tooth and dental (oral) health from start.

Practicing healthy conduct can prevent or lessen teeth decay (cavities) in infants and children.

• Always clean your infant's gums after feeding:
  • Cradle your child with one arm
  • Wrap a moistened washcloth across the index finger of your free hand
  • Gently rub down the gum tissues
• Do not placed your baby to mattress with a bottle, prop it of their mouth or allow your baby to feed "at will".
• Infants normally start teething between 4 and six months of age. His/her gums can be pink and swollen and saliva float can also boom. To ease those symptoms, supply your infant a clean teething ring or bloodless moist washcloth. Cold temperatures are soothing, so that you may additionally want to kick back the teething ring.
• Remember, dental decay is an infectious transmissible sickness. Avoid testing the temperature of the bottle together with your mouth, sharing utensils (e.g. spoons), or cleansing a pacifier or a bottle nipple with the aid of setting it to your mouth. These practices can help prevent the transmission of micro organism that purpose tooth decay (cavities).

6-one year of age:

Between the a long time of six to eight months, your toddler will get his/her first teeth. It is critical to care for his/her enamel proper from the begin. Practicing wholesome habits can prevent or reduce tooth decay (cavities) in babies and youngsters.

• Continue to easy your toddler's gums after feeding. Once a teeth comes in, start to use a baby's tender bristled toothbrush, without a toothpaste, further to massaging the gum tissues.
• To relieve the signs and symptoms of teething, deliver your infant a clean teething ring or cold moist washcloth. Cold temperatures are soothing, so you may additionally need to relax the teething ring.
• Begin to wean your infant from the bottle as your toddler starts to devour greater strong food and drink from a cup. Gradually, start to provide a cup for water or juice. By age 12 to 14 months, maximum kids can drink from a cup. Promote wholesome conduct now by using restricting the frequency and quantity of sweetened drinks and ingredients you provide your child. Do not permit your baby to stroll around along with his/her bottle.
• Be familiar with the everyday appearance of your baby's gums and tooth. Regularly, carry your baby's lips to test for suspicious small white or brown spots on his/her enamel. If you notice those white or brown spots, which may additionally imply dental decay (cavities), schedule an appointment along with your dentist proper away.
• Schedule your toddler's first dental appointment. Your baby must have an examination with the aid of a dentist before his/her first birthday or inside 6 months after the first tooth is available in.
• If your drinking water is not fluoridated, communicate in your pediatrician about toddler fluoride dietary supplements.
• Remember, dental decay is an infectious transmissible disorder. Avoid testing the temperature of the bottle together with your mouth, sharing utensils (e.g. spoons), or cleansing a pacifier or a bottle nipple by placing it on your mouth. These practices can assist stop the transmission of bacteria that reason teeth decay (cavities).

12 to 18 months of age:

By the age of 1, your toddler must have an oral exam by way of a dentist.

• Continue to comb your baby's enamel two times a day with simple water
• Regularly, lift your infant's lips to test for suspicious small white or brown spots on his/her tooth. If you spot those white or brown spots, which may additionally imply dental decay (cavities), agenda an appointment together with your dentist right away.
• If your child has no longer visible a dentist for their first dental exam, agenda an appointment.
• Continue to take steps to keep away from passing decay inflicting germs to your baby.

18 months to age five:

By 30 months of age, all of the primary (first) tooth ought to have come into the mouth. By age 3, most babies ought to have stopped the usage of the pacifier and/or sucking his/her thumb.

• At age 2, begin brushing with a pea-sized quantity (small smear) of fluoridated toothpaste. Teach your toddler to spit out the toothpaste. Observe to insure that your infant does no longer swallow the toothpaste.
• Begin to teach your infant how to brush his/her enamel. Generally, kids will need assist with brushing till they've the hand coordination to smooth their own tooth efficiently. Children should be capable of brush unsupervised by using the age of six or seven.
• Continue to frequently raise your child's lip to test for suspicious small white or brown spots on his/her tooth. If you spot those white or brown spots, which can also imply dental decay (cavities), time table an appointment along with your dentist right away.
• Bring your infant to his/her dentist for a regular checkup.
• Talk together with your dentist in case your child is over age three and often sucks a pacifier or fingers or a thumb.

Further Information for Infant Oral Health

• About Fluoride
• Dietary Habits and Oral Health
• Injury Prevention
• Resources and Links