Here are some tips to help your child develop healthy habits!

As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, you should think about scheduling a dental visit. The American Dental Association recommends that the first dental visit takes place within six months after the first tooth appears, but no later than a child’s first birthday. At this visit, you can expect the dentist to examine your child’s mouth, check for proper development, clean your child’s teeth, and provide tips for daily care. A big part of visiting the dentist early on is getting your child comfortable with visiting the dental office.

It’s a common misconception that decay in baby teeth doesn’t matter since they’ll get adult teeth later. However, cavities that are left untreated can compromise not only the baby teeth but also the underlying permanent teeth. 

For children younger than 3 years, you should start brushing their teeth as soon as they begin to come into the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than the size of a grain of rice. For children 3 to 6 years of age, you can use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Continue helping your child brush until age 4 or 5. After that, let them do it themselves, but supervise them until age 7 or 8. Once your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin flossing between their teeth daily.

A great method for getting children to brush their teeth is to “tell, show, do”:

• Tell: In age-appropriate language, explain how to brush and floss and how those actions keep teeth clean and healthy

• Show: Have children watch mom and dad brush and floss their own teeth

• Do: Help children brush and floss their teeth in the morning and before bed keeping a regular routine, so they know it’s expected. Both children and adults should brush for two minutes, twice a day!