As soon as your child gets
its first
tooth, recommended good dental hygiene is for you to begin cleaning the teeth and gums after feedings with a
moist gauze pad or washcloth.
When
your child is comfortable with a toothbrush, brush its teeth twice a day
with a special, extra soft infant toothbrush. Use a small
dab of toothpaste if your child likes it and if you're sure he won't
swallow it. Otherwise it's fine to brush without toothpaste.
Gently
floss your child's teeth each day, and pay particular attention to areas
where the teeth are close together. Regularly help your child brush and
floss until they're 7 to 10 years old and capable of effectively removing the
plaque off their teeth by themselves. After that, check their efforts
occasionally.
It's a good idea to keep some
disclosing tablets on hand. The dye in these tablets will stain remaining
plaque a bright red, making it easy to see and thus easy to remove.
Fluoride is an important preventive
tool for infants. Your Dentist sometimes prescribes fluoride tablets, and
always recommends fluoride toothpaste and fluoride treatments in the
dental office after cleanings.
The
most serious dental problem for young children is called
"bottle-mouth syndrome." This is tooth decay caused by the
constant presence of sugars from milk, formula, or fruit juice in a
child's mouth. It happens when a child takes a bottle to bed, or has a
bottle for extended periods during the day. Use pacifiers or bottles of
water at these times to prevent this severe decay of baby teeth, and
always clean your child's teeth and gums immediately after each feeding.
Children learn best by imitation, so
let them watch you brush and floss your teeth. Regular praise of their
home-care efforts, together with a positive example from you, will get
your child headed in the proper direction for excellent oral hygiene.
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