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The month of February may be widely recognized as Valentine’s Day, but it is also known as National Children’s Dental Health Month. According to the American Dental Association, baby teeth are very important to your child’s overall health and development. They help your child to chew, talk and smile. Baby teeth also hold space in your child’s jaws for the permanent teeth that are under the gums.
Establishing good oral health care begins during your child’s first year. Babies can develop tooth decay when there is frequent and prolonged exposure to drinks that contain sugar including formula. You can prevent this by cleaning your baby’s gums with a clean damp washcloth after feedings and not putting your child to sleep with a bottle.
Your child’s first tooth will appear between 6 to12 months and most children will have all 20 primary teeth by their third birthday. When the first tooth appears, begin brushing your baby’s tooth with a child-sized brush and a "smear" of fluoride-containing toothpaste, no larger than the size of a grain of rice. It is also recommended to schedule a dentist appointment by your child’s first birthday to have their teeth and gums checked. For help finding a dentist near you, visit the American Dental Association’s Find a Dentist Tool.
Continue to brush your child’s teeth morning and evening with a smear of fluoride-containing toothpaste until the age of three. Between the ages of 3-6, children should brush with a pea-sized portion, twice a day. It is also recommended that adults assist and supervise children’s brushing and flossing until around 8 years of age. Remember to remind your child not to swallow the toothpaste.
Not all children look forward to brushing their teeth. Here are a few tips to help make brushing time more enjoyable.
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Develop a morning and evening tooth brushing routine. Click here to learn how.
- Give your child a choice, like which toothbrush or toothpaste to use.
- Plan to read a story or do an activity your child enjoys after brushing teeth.
- Help your child teach and brush their favorite stuffed animal’s teeth.
- Brush your teeth with your child.
- Read books on brushing teeth or visiting the dentist.
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Add a song to your brushing. Click here for 7 toothbrushing tunes.
- Another way to support good oral health is to offer your family teeth smart snacks.
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