Good oral care is important from the eruption of your child’s first tooth. It is also beneficial to begin good oral habits early. Let’s look at different levels of oral care for infants to teens.
Infants/Toddlers:
- Use a warm washcloth to wipe your child’s teeth as they begin to erupt, usually around 6 months.
- You can also begin brushing with an extra soft toothbrush or finger brush as more teeth erupt. It is okay for your child to chew the brush! Chewing on the toothbrush actually cleans the teeth as well.
- A small smear of toothpaste is okay to use from the start.
- Schedule a dental exam around age two. Many children will not tolerate a dental cleaning at this age, however having a dental exam is important to check the health of the teeth.
Pre-schoolers:
- Electric toothbrushes are more effective in cleaning teeth for patients of all ages.
- It is okay to let your child brush first as this lets them practice. However, it is still important to brush for them afterwards. Children need help brushing their teeth until around age eight when their dexterity improves.
- Pre-schoolers should use a rice size amount of toothpaste. Fluoride toothpaste is best as long as you monitor your child and ask them to spit out the excess.
- Once a child starts to have teeth that touch, you can introduce flossing.
Grade-schoolers:
- Brushing and flossing should be routine by this time in a child’s life.
- Ideally, children should brush three times a day and floss once a day.
- Again, electric toothbrushes are most effective at removing plaque and bacteria.
Teens:
- Orthodontic appliances may come into play.
- Oral care is not always a high priority for teens.
- Teens tend to have diets higher in carbohydrate and acidic beverages, and some experiment with tobacco products.
- Good dental hygiene habits are extremely important. It is especially important to develop good habits prior to leaving for college or going out in the world on their own!
Adams, Cheek, and Holt Dentistry is here to treat your family members of all ages. Please call us at 919.866.1360 or click here to schedule an appointment!
