Taking Care of Your Toddlers Teeth

Once your child starts getting teeth, it is important to start taking good care of them! Even though they may only have a few, you still want to make sure they are healthy. Tooth decay in babies and toddlers is harmful because this can cause their teeth to fall out early. If this happens, their other teeth can move in and not allow the adult tooth in that place to grow in. It can also cause infections and cause your baby to become seriously ill. Here are a few tips on tooth care for toddlers (ages 1-3).

1) The American Academy of Pediatrics suggest that you get an infant toothbrush and clean your babies gums after every feeding with water and the brush. Brush your baby's gums gently with the soft bristle toothbrush or a wet wash cloth. They suggest this from birth until they get their first teeth.

2) Once your child gets a few teeth, get infant toothpaste and an infant toothbrush (you can use this until they are 2). This often fits on your finger and has bristles on the end. You need to only use about a pea size of toothpaste on the brush. Brush their teeth and gums for 15-20 seconds twice a day.Do it in the morning and after dinner. Ask your doctor if your baby is getting enough fluoride as well. They may have you change toothpaste if your baby is not.

3) Make sure you brush your child's teeth on the inside and outside. Also, brush their gums on the inside and outside as well. This helps gets rid of bacteria. Try to brush their tongue if you can as well. You do not need to go far back on their tongue, but just brush back and forth a few times.

4) Limit the amount of juice your child drinks. If they do drink juice, dilute it with water so they are not getting as much. Try to limit it to one total cup of juice per day.

5) Once your child can spit, teach them to swish some water and spit it out after brushing.

6) Once your child is old enough, start teaching them how to brush their own teeth. A good way to teach them is to brush your teeth at the same time.

7) The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you take your child to see a dentist between 12 and 24 months old. We took Brody at 18 months. He hated it, but our dentist was great and it was quick! If you are in the Northwest Arkansas area, Dr. Caple is a great pediatric dentist.

8) If your child has bad sucking habits, talk to your pediatrician or dentist about this to see if it is effecting their teeth.

9) Once your child hits 2, get them a children's toothbrush and start having them practice brushing their teeth on their own. After they are done, you should probably brush them as well to make sure they are clean. Brush twice daily.

10) Start having your 2 year old use fluroide toothpaste. However, make sure you teach them not to swallow it. Swallowing too much fluroide toothpaste can cause white or brown spots on their adult teeth.

11) Start flossing your child's teeth. You can actually start doing this as soon as two teeth are touching in their mouth, but most dentist don't recommend it until at least age 2. Talk to your dentist about when to start doing this.

12) Have a yearly dental check-up done for your child.

Keep those teeth healthy and clean!

Thanks for reading and until next time,