How a child takes care of his or her teeth effects their development. Furthermore, their dental habits as children often follow them into adult life – so it’s important to set the right tone at an early age.

This page will provide a general overview of dental concerns most expecting parents have regarding taking care of their children’s teeth.

When should a child first see the dentist?

Your child should visit the dentist by 1 year of age, or when the first tooth appears. The traditional view is that regular dental visits should begin when the child is 3 years of age. By this age, the child will be far along developmentally that the dentist can expect some co-operative behavior in the dental office.

The initial visit to the dentist will be mostly an educational session for you, as to:

• establish sound preventative dental practices for the child

• alleviate any fears or concerns you may be having

• provide you with an understanding of what to expect in the future

When and how should I take care of my child’s oral health?

Sound dental prevention must be started around the time that the first primary teeth emerge into the mouth. While some bacteria can only survive on a tooth’s surface, other bacterial species colonize the gums and are found in infant mouths prior to teething. As the teeth come out, these bacteria destroy the enamel as it emerges from the gums.As teeth start to appear, you should run a warm damp cloth over the child’s gums after every meal – be gentle though.

As more teeth erupt, they should be brushed well at least once a day, preferably before going to bed. A soft toothbrush with a small bristle head should be used without any toothpaste, initially, since many children dislike the taste of toothpaste and are frightened by the foaming action.

Once toothpaste is introduced, only a small amount should be used, no more than the size of a small pea.

As the child gets older, they should be encouraged to brush their own teeth, but at least once a day they should be supervised and assisted by an adult until they are 5-8 years of age. At this age, they will have the manual dexterity required to brush their own teeth. In addition, they should begin flossing at this age.

Importance of primary (baby) teeth

Many parents wonder why you should worry about the primary teeth since they shall eventually fall out and be replaced by their permanent successors. Primary teeth are important though, for the following reasons:

• they are used for chewing which helps develop the bones and muscles of the face, as well as aiding in proper nutrition
   

• they give the child a nice appearance and smile which is important for their social acceptance and psychological development
   

• they aid in the learning of speech
   

• they maintain space for the permanent teeth to grow into
   

• if the primary teeth are not properly care for, the child may develop dental decay and abscesses which would then result in a great deal of pain and suffering for the child that could have been avoided with proper home care

Should my child receive fluoride?

Fluoride is one of the most important factors in the prevention of tooth decay. The topical application of fluoride (when a dentist brushes it on or you brush with fluoridated toothpaste) is responsible for most of the protection from developing dental decay.

If your local city’s water supply does not contain fluoride, your dentist may prescript supplements in the form of fluoride tablets. Your dentist should not prescribe fluoride supplements for any child under 6 months of age, and should not even recommend multi-vitamins that contain fluoridethough. Following this age, it is safe for your child to use products such as fluoridated toothpaste – in fact, it is recommended.