Brushing and Flossing a Child's TeethTopic OverviewStart caring for your child's teeth as soon as you see the first
baby (primary) tooth. Some tips on dental care for a child include: - Clean your baby's first teeth with a clean
piece of gauze, a terry cloth washcloth, or a soft-bristled baby toothbrush at
least once a day. You may use one of the commercial "baby toothpastes"
available for infants who are at least 5 months old.
- Clean your
child's teeth before bedtime.
- When using toothpaste, use only a
small amount (about the size of a small pea). Young children can become
seriously ill if they swallow large amounts of dental products that contain
fluoride. Keep these products out of your child's
reach. Normal amounts of fluoride added to public water supplies and bottled
water are safe for children and adults.
- Your child can learn how to
brush his or her own teeth at about 3 years of age and should be brushing his
or her own teeth morning and night by age 4, although parents should supervise
and check for proper cleaning.
- Studies show that children between 6
and 9 years of age who brush with fluoride toothpaste have 24% less tooth decay
and tooth-surface damage than might be expected if non-fluoride toothpaste is
used.1
- Flossing is an important part of
good dental health. Start flossing your child's teeth when he or she has teeth
that touch each other. Talk with your dentist about the right timing and
technique to floss your child's teeth and to teach your child to floss.
Plastic
flossing tools
 may be helpful. - From time to time, you may
want to use disclosing tablets. Disclosing tablets are chewable tablets that
color any plaque that remains after brushing. You can get these tablets at most
drugstores.
- When your child is about 6 years old, you may want him
or her to use a mouthwash, especially if your child has cavities. Do not give
your child a mouthwash that contains alcohol. The alcohol can be harmful if
swallowed.
| |
Go to top of page
Go to next section
