When I was a new mom, I honestly had no idea when to schedule my son's first dentist appointment. It wasn't at the forefront of my mind as we navigated life with a new baby. Once he cut his first tooth, we decided we should look into his first dentist visit. I learned at his appointment that most dentists recommend the first visit between six and twelve months, or scheduling that first appointment when that first tooth comes in. We've learned a lot about the importance of oral health since then, and we've been diligent at taking our kids in every six months. Since February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, I've partnered with UnitedHealthcare to share some important oral care tips for babies and toddlers.
National Children's Dental Health Month
From the moment my son's first tooth popped through, I felt this immeasurable amount of responsibility. Basically, I felt like the future of his adult teeth depended on me taking good care of his baby teeth and teaching him great oral health from a young age. Thankfully, both my kids love brushing their teeth! We have had some brushing strikes in the past, where our kids are just tired of the routine and don't feel like brushing or letting me brush their teeth. (Our dentist recommended we actually help them brush until they're at least eight years old, to make sure they're getting all of the problem areas!) We've implemented some fun ways to get them into brushing when they don't feel like it.
We let this guy choose his own toothbrush and he loves his Sonicare for kids. This one came with stickers to decorate the handle. Giving them options lets them feel like they're in control and makes things less scary and more fun.
How to Make Brushing Teeth FUN
- Pretend there are characters in the kids' mouths. This one is probably the biggest hit around here! When our kids don't feel like brushing, we say "Hey, Batman is trapped in your mouth and he can't get out! He's stuck on one of your back teeth! Let's get him out of there!" Of course, we use different variations depending on which characters they love at the time, but this almost always works!
- Set a timer. Our dentist recommended that we brush their teeth for two full minutes if possible, which seems like an ETERNITY with toddlers and preschoolers! Having a visual, like a stopwatch on your phone can be a helpful tool. Our kids love brushing until the alarm goes off, most of the time. If nothing else, it's a great way to get them to work up to two full minutes for brushing!
- Let them choose their toothpaste. Now, this is within reason, of course. Dentists recommend using a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste starting at age two. At age three, a pea-sized dot is the recommended amount. My kids love when they can choose their favorite flavor toothpaste, and Tom's of Maine is a household favorite for us and the kids!
- Add tooth brushing to a daily routine chart. I made this free printable daily routine chart for my kids to help them complete all the tasks we do in the mornings and evenings! They love checking items off this chart and it's great for those kiddos who are too young to read yet. It also keeps me accountable when I'm feeling lazy and the kids keep me in line by reminding me of our duties!
Oral Health Tips For Babies
So, where do you start, when you find out how important oral health is, even starting from infancy? These are some great tips for those early teeth that come through and how to start good brushing habits!
- Never put a baby to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, fruit juice or sweetened liquid. When these liquids pool in a baby’s mouth, they form a sugary film on the baby’s teeth, leading to decay and infection. If you're breastfeeding, my dentist suggested rinsing baby's mouth out with water or wiping down their teeth with a washcloth after feeding. They even have baby tooth wipes, which look like a regular wipe but are specially formulated to be safe for wiping out a baby's mouth and teeth.
- Starting at birth, clean the baby’s gums with water and a soft cloth or child-sized toothbrush. Once a child reaches age 2, parents can start brushing a baby’s teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a smear-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste (no larger than a grain of rice), making sure to teach the toddler to spit out the toothpaste. Most dental offices give free, age-appropriate toothbrushes and toothpaste to kids at each dental visit! That little swag bag is always exciting for my kids.
- Schedule the baby’s first dental visit when the first tooth comes in, usually between the child’s first six to 12 months.
Since we started took our todlder to her first dentist appointment early, dental visits are less stressful. Choosing a dental office that specializes in pediatrics is also really helpful. Our hygienists go over everything they're going to do with our kids by letting them demonstrate on a stuffed animal beforehand.
Oral Health Tips For Children
- Help your child brush twice a day with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste; for children ages 3 to 6, this means a pea-sized dab. Make sure your child does not swallow toothpaste, which may expose them to too much fluoride.
- Begin flossing when back teeth begin to come in. Toothbrush bristles cannot reach between teeth, leaving those teeth vulnerable to bacteria and decay.
- Limit sugary snacks and drinks between meals. When sugar comes in contact with teeth, decay-causing bacteria can produce acids that damage your child’s teeth. Encourage children to eat healthy snacks, such as fruits and vegetables.
- Take your child to the dentist regularly and ask about fluoride supplements, which make the tooth enamel strong and help protect it from decay. For most children, that means visiting the dentist twice a year.
- Sealants are plastic coatings placed on back teeth to protect them from decay, and they are sometimes covered as a preventive service by dental plans. Ask the dentist about placing sealants for your child once he/she turns 6, when molars first come in.
This little lady is still learning, so I let her have some control by giving her a toothbrush with training toothpaste since she hasn't mastered the art of spitting out the toothpaste just let. Then, I brush her teeth with a tiny bit of fluoride-containing toothpaste.
Good oral health is such an important thing to start as soon as those first teeth come through! I was surprised to learn how prevalent tooth decay is in young children. 33% of kids ages 2-8 have cavities in their baby teeth! Since it is mostly preventable, we as parents need to start good habits from infancy.
Luckily, we have some great resources at our disposal to help us out. You can see how your state ranks in sealants, fluoridated water, and school-based dental programs here. Our pediatric dentist's office is great about providing information to us when we have questions, too.
When did you take your kids to their first dentist appointment?
Do you have any other tips to make tooth brushing easier?
Let me a comment below!
#dentalhealthforkids
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