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Every parent knows that a healthy smile is a sign of a happy child, and oral health experts agree that creating those healthy smiles begins in infancy. Experts have developed this set of paediatric oral-health tips.
1. Start cleaning teeth early.
As soon as the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with a clean, damp cloth every day. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. Begin using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is two years old. Use toothpaste with fluoride earlier if your child's doctor or dentist recommends it.
2. Use the right amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride is important for fighting cavities, but if children younger than six years old swallow too much fluoride, their permanent teeth may have white spots. To keep this from happening, use only a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea). Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and to rinse well after brushing.
3. Supervise brushing.
Brush your child's teeth twice a day until your child has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone. Then continue to closely watch brushing, to make sure the child is doing a thorough job and using only a small amount of toothpaste.
4. Talk to your child's doctor or dentist.
Check with the doctor or dentist about your child's specific fluoride needs. After age two, most children get the right amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
Parents of children older than six months should ask about the need for a fluoride supplement if drinking water does not have enough fluoride.
Do not let a child younger than six years old use a fluoride mouth rinse unless the child's doctor or dentist recommends it.
Early care for your children's teeth will protect their smile and their health.
Reference:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health (Updated 2013, 10 July). Brush up on healthy teeth: Simple steps for kids' smiles. Retrieved 20 February 2018 from https://www.cdc.gov