I’ve had several requests to write a blog about taking care of children’s teeth. In honor of February being National Children’s Dental Health month and for all you mommies out there, here it is…
On average, babies get their first teeth at around 6 months of age. They will continue to “teethe” and will have 20 baby teeth by the time they are 3 years old. Although these teeth are temporary, it is important to take care of them diligently. Baby teeth will start to fall out around age 6 or 7. Until then, they are doing a lot of work for your child.
Avoid letting your baby go to sleep with a bottle with milk, formula or juice. Having the teeth bathe in such liquids for prolonged periods of time can cause tooth decay. Avoid giving your toddler candy and sticky sugary foods like caramel. Make sure your child has a good calcium intake for development of strong teeth.
Even before any teeth come in, you should clean your baby’s mouth regularly with a wet washcloth. This way your baby gets used to having a clean mouth. By age one they can have their teeth brushed with an actual toothbrush. Look for “stage 1” toothbrushes that are specially designed for 1 year olds, then move up accordingly as your child grows. Use a non-fluoridated toothpaste at first. When your child is old enough to spit out, you can switch to a fluoride toothpaste. Use only a small amount of toothpaste, no more than pea-sized.
For more on this topic, look out for my blog later this week. Until then, have a fabulous week!
Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. To learn more about my practice, click on the link www.elitesacramentodentist.com
Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Feb. 9, 2010
I’ve been a avid reader of your site and have to say that you provide everything documented here in a easy to read manner so thanks for that
You are very welcome! Thank you for reading.