Pediatric dentists get lots of questions about oral health care in young children. One of the more common questions parents ask is when they should start brushing their child’s teeth and how much toothpaste should be used. The answer— which may surprise many parents,—is as soon as baby gets their 1st tooth, it’s time to start brushing!
Any size soft bristle toothbrush is fine but there are many age appropriate options found in the drug stores. When starting out, brush your baby's teeth with water. Just brushing alone will remove plaque on baby’s early teeth. Since babies and toddlers do not know how to spit, they will end up swallowing the toothpaste, and only a small amount is actually effective in preventing tooth decay. Infant varieties of toothpaste don’t contain fluoride. They are OK if swallowed, but other than their cleaning action, they are not helpful in preventing tooth decay.
By the age of 2, it’s time to start using a fluoride toothpaste. Start with just a small dab on the toothbrush: The size of a pea is sufficient for children up to 3-4 years old. Brush twice a day for 2 minutes and teach your child to spit at the end of the brushing
Fluoride in toothpaste is helpful in repairing surfaces that are damaged by bacteria in the mouth and helpful in fighting tooth decay. Like other vitamins and minerals, it’s important to get enough— but not too much! Since children’s teeth are still developing, if they get too much fluoride, their adult teeth may erupt with faint white lines or patches called dental fluorosis.
During your routine checkups, your dentist can answer any questions about fluoride and fluoridated toothpaste, and offer brushing tips to insure children brush for the recommended 2 minutes.
Two simple tips to try to monitor the 2 minute brushing session are:
- Using a 2 minute hours glass or timer
- Play or sing a favorite song and watch the time till you reach 2 minutes on a clock
Insuring your child brushes their twice a day with a fluoridated tooth is a crucial step to establishing good oral health. Starting as early as possible will help insure your child heads in the right direction and THAT is something to smile about!
For further information, visit us at www.deltadentalnj.com
- Facebook.com/deltadentalnj
- Twitter: @deltadentalNJ
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/deltadentalnj
