How to Care for Your Child's Teeth and Gums
Good dental habits that start early can help prevent cavities and gum disease. Use these instructions to care for your child's teeth and gums.
Brushing and Flossing
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For babies, before the first tooth comes in: Use a washcloth or soft toothbrush and water to gently clean the gums after feedings.
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For children under 3 years old: Help your child brush twice a day for 2 minutes with a soft toothbrush with a smear (the size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste.
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For children 3 years old and older: Help your child brush twice a day for 2 minutes with a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child to spit the toothpaste out. When your child has teeth that touch, help them floss once a day.
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Children 10 years and older usually can brush and floss on their own. Help them remember to brush twice a day for 2 minutes each time and floss once a day.
Fluoride
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Check to see if your drinking water has fluoride in it. If it doesn't, or if you have a well, talk to your dentist about a fluoride supplement for your child.
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Talk to your health care provider or dentist about getting fluoride treatments put on your child's teeth.
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Once your child can rinse and spit (usually at about age 6), ask your dentist if your child should use a fluoride mouthwash.
Important Habits
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Start offering your baby a cup with breast milk, formula, or water in it when they're around 6 months old. Use either a cup without a lid or a cup with a valveless lid. By 1 year of age, your child should be off the bottle and using a cup instead.
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Do not give juice to babies younger than 12 months old. If you decide to give juice after that, give less than 4 ounces a day to toddlers, less than 6 ounces a day to kids ages 4–6, and less than 8 ounces to kids over age 7. Always use 100% fruit juice, serve it in a cup (not in a bottle), and give it at mealtimes only.
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Don't let your child go to bed with a bottle or sippy cup with milk or juice in it. Don't let them sip on a bottle or sippy cup throughout the day with anything but water in it.
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Limit sugar-sweetened beverages (like soda, juice drinks, sports drinks, and flavored milks) and sugary snacks (especially sticky candy). If your child does have these, serve at mealtimes, and have them brush their teeth after.
Your child:
When should my child see a dentist? Your child should see a dentist within 6 months of the first tooth coming in OR by their first birthday (whichever comes first). After that, your child should have dental checkups twice a year or as recommended by your dentist or health care provider.
What else can I do to help keep my child's teeth healthy? Make your home and car smoke-free. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to get cavities. If you or anyone in your household smokes, call 800-QUIT-NOW or go to smokefree.gov for tips and advice on quitting.