Are there any special precautions to be taken with children’s teeth?
1. Keep Teeth Clean Even before your baby’s first tooth comes in, wipe his or her gums with a wet cloth after each feeding to remove excess food and bacteria. After teeth erupt, use a soft-bristled brush and warm water to clean the teeth. By age 3 children should be brushing their own teeth with adult supervision. Make sure they use just a pea-sized dot of toothpaste. Start flossing your child’s teeth daily when all the primary teeth are in or when teeth are touching each other. By age 8 children are usually old enough to brush and floss by themselves with only occasional checks. Make brushing and flossing daily a routine, but keep it enjoyable. Try brushing with your child or letting him or her use a colorful toothbrush. Back to Top 2. Avoid Baby-Bottle Tooth Decay Baby-bottle tooth decay can occur when an infant is given a bottle filled with milk, formula, or fruit juice at bedtime, naptime, or for long periods during the day. Extended exposure to the sugar in these liquids can cause
