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Clean your baby's mouth within
the first few days after birth.
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Wipe your baby’s gums with a
damp cloth or gauze pad after each feeding.
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Once your baby has his first
tooth, use a small soft bristle toothbrush to clean it. Ask your doctor if
you should use toothpaste.
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Give your child bottles only
during mealtime. If your baby rests or naps easier with a bottle in his
mouth, fill it with water rather than milk, formula, sugar water or fruit
juice.
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Avoid giving your child sweet
liquids many times a day.
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Don’t let your child walk
around with a bottle or use it as a pacifier.
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Never dip a pacifier in honey,
sugar or any sweet liquid.
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Teach your child to drink from
a cup as soon as possible since it will prevent liquid from pooling around
the teeth.
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Take your baby for his first
regular dental check-up when he is one year old.
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When your child turns two,
brush his teeth once or twice a day.
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Make sure your child brushes
his teeth after breakfast and before bed. Use toothpaste only if your child
can be taught not to swallow it.
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Provide healthy snacks that
don’t cause tooth decay.
