| Oral Health Care for Babies and Toddlers |
There are many children aged four and under who are
being treated out of necessity in hospital and private
facilities under general anesthesia for tooth decay.
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth and
certain foods are in contact long enough to allow
bacterial by-products to break down the enamel of the
primary or "baby" teeth. Without treatment the decay
will progress, eventually causing pain and infection.
Early childhood tooth decay is a severe form of decay
found in young children. Diets with high sugar content,
a high frequency of snacking and/or frequent meals and a
sustained use of the baby bottle or sippy cups, as well
as a lack of tooth brushing and access to fluoridated
water, are contributors to early childhood decay.
Brushing your baby's teeth
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Begin brushing your baby's teeth as soon as
his/her first tooth appears |
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Use a soft, baby toothbrush with just a tiny
dab of fluoride toothpaste |
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Brush twice a day; brushing before bed is
especially important |
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Don't miss brushing where the teeth and gums
meet! |
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Lift your baby's lip regularly to check for
white or brown spots on the teeth. Look
closely along the gum line. Call your
dentist if you notice anything unusual |
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Take your baby to see a dentist once the
first tooth comes in or by his/her first
birthday |
Find a comfortable position
It is often easiest to brush your baby's teeth when the
child is lying down. You will see better and do a better
job. Try these positions:
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Hold your baby in your arms in the feeding
position |
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Lay your baby on a change table, making sure
they cannot fall off |
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Place your baby on a couch or bed, with
their head in your lap |
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Lay your baby on the floor with their head
on a pillow placed between your legs |
Cleaning your toddler's teeth
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Use a child-size toothbrush with soft
bristles |
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Use a tiny dab of fluoride toothpaste; at
age three, it should be the size of a pea |
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Brush twice a day; brushing before bed is
especially important |
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Brush the tongue, the top of the tooth and
both sides of the tooth; remember to brush
where the teeth and gums meet, too! |
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Brush for about two minutes |
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Gums that bleed need more brushing to make
them healthy |
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Take your child to the dentist regularly
when he/she reaches one year of age |
Remember!
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Young children cannot clean their own teeth.
Do it for them when they are very young; do
it with them as they grow |
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Children under eight need you to finish
brushing for them |
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Always use toothpaste with fluoride.
Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and helps
prevent tooth decay |
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Toothpaste should not be swallowed.
Encourage children to spit out toothpaste
and keep it out of their reach |
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Discourage ongoing nibbling on foods and
sipping on drinks between meals and snacks.
This causes ongoing acid attacks on teeth,
which can cause tooth decay, even tooth rot |
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Be a great role model: children want to
brush their teeth when they see you brushing
your own |
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