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First Tooth
Average Age: 6 Months
As Early As: 3 Months
As Late As: 1 Year
When your child’s first tooth is present you should begin to brush it gently with an infant size toothbrush free of any toothpaste.
No milk or juice at bed.
These liquids contain sugars that can cause a disease known as “Baby Bottle Tooth Decay”. This occurs from exposure to sugary liquids. Baby teeth are important in helping your child chew, learn to speak clearly, look attractive, and for holding space for their permanent teeth.
Never cleanse a pacifier with your own saliva.
Never share forks, spoons, cups or toothbrushes with other people. Bacteria can be spread from adult to child or child to child. Your own saliva has bacteria that your child was not born with that can affect their long-term oral health.
After the first tooth is visible, brush with a thin smear of toothpaste on an infant size toothbrush.
Fill prescription of Fluoride vitamins, which is available from us or by your pediatrician. The ADA recommended daily dose for this age is .25 mg. Fluoride in drop form is a safe and effective adjunct in reducing decay and strengthening enamel.
Offer a variety of foods with different textures to help the mouth develop properly.
Teething continues until all 20 baby teeth come in.
Continue to brush with a thin smear of toothpaste in a regular routine both day and night.
Make sure you can see their teeth when you brush for them. Be sure to check for baby molars in the back. The best way to do this is to place them lower than you on your lap.
Encourage your child to drink from a regular cup. Continued bottle drinking or “sippy” cups can interfere with development of the mouth, lead to increased rate of decay, and cause crooked teeth.
Continue to have your child take fluoride drops daily (.25 mg).
Your child’s first dental visit:
When your child has all 20 teeth, and during this age group, should be their first dental visit.
This visit will include a cleaning, dental exam, hygiene instruction, and nutritional counseling. The hygienist will clean and polish all their teeth, and give instructions for proper homecare and dietary habits. The dentist will count your child’s teeth and determine if any decay is present. The dentist will evaluate the back of the throat and tongue. Your child will stick their tongue out in gauze in order to evaluate this. We recommend you make your next hygiene appointment along with any other necessary appointments before you leave the office. This helps to maintain our dental relationship.
Continue to brush 2 times a day with a pea-size amount of toothpaste. Children at this age want to brush by themselves. Remember that they do not have the dexterity to do a good job. We recommend that a parent follow up with brushing until at least age ten. Brush in a circular motion with the bristles angled toward the gum-line. Continue to provide fluoride vitamins now in drop or tablet form for your child daily (.25 mg.)
Your Child's Dental Development
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Cavity Crusader's Club
Earn movie tickets to the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock!
Your child will have his or her picture added to the "Cavity Crusader's Club" board with his or her friends!
Earn "stars" for each cavity free visit. After four cavity free visits, your child will earn a free movie ticket and a treat!
Floss your child’s teeth once daily and gently buff the floss against the teeth. Curve the floss under the gum-line in a “C” shape. At this age we do not recommend a certain kind of floss. Whatever is more comfortable for you can be used. We do however discourage the use of any “glide” or ‘easy slide” floss.
Set a good example for your child by brushing and flossing your own teeth and by visiting our office for regular dental check-ups.
Offer healthy snacks, which include fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, and yogurt. Limit frequent snacking. It increases acid attacks and can cause tooth decay. Be aware that some snacks are good, like raisins and bananas, but can get stuck in between the teeth or on biting surfaces and should be quickly removed with brushing and flossing.
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