These steps will help you take good care of your child’s teeth.
Start with the first tooth.
As soon as your baby’s teeth come in, clean them regularly with a clean cloth or a soft children’s toothbrush. Clean them after feeding, especially right before bedtime.
Teach your child to brush 2 times a day.
Around age 4 or 5, kids can start to brush their own teeth. Watch to make sure your kids brush all their teeth and use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Remind your kids not to swallow the toothpaste.
Make it fun.
Getting kids to brush their teeth can be hard. Here are some ideas that may help.
- Let your child choose a toothbrush in a favorite color or with a character from a TV show or movie. Just make sure it’s the right size for your child’s mouth.
- Make a checklist and have your child add a sticker after each brushing.
Protect your child’s teeth with fluoride.
Fluoride is a mineral that helps protect teeth from decay. Here are some ways to make sure your child gets the right amount of fluoride.
- Fluoride is added to the drinking water in many towns and cities. Check with your child’s doctor or your city to find out if your water has fluoride in it.
- If your water doesn’t have fluoride in it, a doctor or dentist can give your child fluoride drops. The doctor or dentist may also paint a fluoride varnish on your child’s teeth.
- Start brushing your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste at age 2 (or sooner if a dentist or doctor suggests it). Use just a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. If young children swallow too much fluoride, their adult teeth may have white spots.
What about cost?
Fluoride treatment for kids who don’t have fluoride in their water is covered under the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform law passed in 2010. Depending on your insurance plan, your child may be able to get fluoride treatment at no cost to you.
Check with your insurance provider to find out what’s included in your plan. For information about other services covered by the Affordable Care Act, visit HealthCare.gov.
Give your child healthy foods and drinks.
Make sure your child gets enough calcium, a mineral that helps make teeth strong. Milk, cheese, and yogurt are good sources of calcium.
Milk also has sugar in it, which can harm your child’s teeth if it stays on them for too long. When you give your kids milk to drink, serve it to them with a meal.
Offer your kids water between meals.
Give your kids water instead of other drinks between meals. Other drinks – including juice, formula, and milk – can have sugar in them. If sugar stays on your child’s teeth for too long, it can lead to tooth decay.
Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle.
Milk or formula will stay on your child’s teeth all night and increase your child’s risk for tooth decay.
Take your child to the dentist.
Take your child to the dentist for a checkup by age 1. Ask your child’s doctor for the name of a dentist who is good with kids.
Going to the dentist for the first time can be scary. It might help your child to see you sitting in the dentist’s chair first. You can also ask the dentist to let your child sit in your lap during the checkup.
Talk to your child’s dentist about how to clean your child’s teeth and other ways to keep your child’s mouth healthy. After the first visit, make sure to schedule regular dental checkups for your child.
What about cost?
Your insurance plan may cover dental care for your child. If you don’t have insurance, find a low-cost dental care program near you.
