Dental Health Information: Tips for Parents
Proper daily care will give your child lots to smile about! Parents should make sure that good dental health habits start at an early age. Daily care, along with healthy snacking and the proper use of fluoride are all important steps towards a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Look in this section for more information about your child’s dental health.
- Baby’s First Teeth
- Teething Trouble
- Early Childhood (Baby Bottle) Tooth Decay
- Pacifiers, Thumb and Finger Sucking
- The First Dental Visit
- Oral Hygiene For Children
- Sealants
- Snack Facts
- Fluoride Facts
For additional information, games and activities for children, be sure to visit the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association Smile City.
Baby’s First Teeth
Usually, the first baby teeth that come into the mouth are the two bottom front teeth. They begin to appear when your child is about 6 months old. They are followed by the 4 upper front teeth. The remainder of the 20 baby teeth will appear periodically, usually in pairs on each side of the jaw, until the child is about 2 1/2 years old.
The chart below shows approximately when each baby tooth may erupt. Do not worry if some teeth are a few months early or late. Every child is different.
Even though baby teeth will eventually be lost, they are just as important as the adult (permanent) teeth. They hold the space for incoming permanent teeth, and are also important for biting and chewing food, speech, and of course, smiling.
Cleaning your baby’s teeth - Good dental care for your baby is an important step towards a lifetime of healthy teeth. Clean your child’s mouth everyday. You can start soon after birth by gently wiping all around your baby’s mouth with a clean, wet face cloth or soft baby toothbrush. This will get your child used to regular cleaning and can help ease teething discomfort. Once teeth appear, put a smear of fluoride toothpaste on a wet face cloth or baby toothbrush and gently clean your baby’s teeth. It is important to get into the habit of doing this for your baby twice a day.
Teething Trouble
Your baby may show some of the following signs when they are teething:
- red cheeks or rash on cheeks
- increased saliva/drooling
- restlessness
- irritability
- loss of appetite
Teething does not cause fever. If your child has fever or diarrhea when teething, treat it as you would at any other time.
Helping your child with teething trouble:
- Let your child chew on a cold, hard object, such as a clean chilled teething ring or wet face cloth.
- Massage your child's gums with a clean finger can help reduce pain and discomfort during teething.
- Check with a health professional before using teething gels, ointments or teething tablets.
Teething cookies or biscuits that contain sugar are not a good choice as they contribute to tooth decay.
Early Childhood (Baby Bottle) Tooth Decay
Early Childhood Tooth Decay, also known as baby bottle tooth decay, involves the rapid decay of many or all the baby teeth.
Teeth are at risk for tooth decay from the first day the teeth appear in the mouth. The decay starts along the gum line behind the top front teeth, which makes it hard to see. It spreads from there and may affect all your baby’s teeth.
The bacteria found in your baby’s mouth play a role in tooth decay. Tooth decay bacteria are passed to the baby from others. If family members have a healthy mouth they will have less of the decay causing bacteria to pass on to their baby.
Tooth decay may happen if your child’s teeth are frequently exposed, for long periods of time, to liquids containing sugars. Fruit juice, sweetened tea, pop, breast milk, cow’s milk and formula all contain sugars than can cause tooth decay if left in contact with the teeth for a long time.
When a child uses a bottle for long periods, especially during rest or sleep times, tooth decay can develop. The bacteria turn the sugar to acid which causes the decay.
Severe Early Childhood Tooth Decay
Parents may not know there is a problem until serious damage has been done. Therefore, it is a good idea to regularly lift your child’s upper lip and check the teeth for early signs of tooth decay.
Pacifiers, Thumb and Finger Sucking Habits
It is natural for babies to suck. It is how they nourish and soothe themselves. Thumb and pacifier habits are generally only a problem if they continue for long periods of time. Most children stop on their own before the permanent teeth come in. If the habit keeps up after the permanent teeth come in, there may be problems with how the jaw and teeth develop.
Thoughts on Pacifiers
- Pacifiers are sometimes given to infants at rest and sleep times or at other times when the baby has been fed but still wants to continue sucking.
- If you notice your child beginning to suck their fingers or thumbs during the first 3 months of life, you can introduce your child to a pacifier. Pacifiers are a good alternative for infants that want to suck their fingers or thumb, because when it is time to break the habit, you can throw the pacifier away.
- Check the pacifier daily. They do not last forever. If it is sticky, cracked or torn, throw it away. A damaged pacifier is a choking hazard.
- Once your child is able to walk, limit the pacifier to sleep time or times when your child is very upset and needs comforting. Using pacifiers too often at this age may interfere with speech and language development.
- You can infect your baby’s mouth with germs that cause tooth decay if you put the baby’s pacifier in your own mouth to clean it. Clean the pacifier daily as you would your child’s bottles and dishes.
- Pacifiers dipped in honey or other sweet substances can cause tooth decay.
Tips for Breaking Thumb or Finger Sucking Habits
- Children should be encouraged to give up the habit once the permanent teeth start erupting.
- If your child is not willing to give up their habit, be aware that any pressure you apply to make them stop may only lead to resistance and lack of cooperation. Try again later.
- Give your child attention and understanding and gently discourage the habit. Reminders such as a bandage on the thumb can help.
- Offer rewards, like a star on a chart or an extra story, for days when your child is successful. Praise your child when they are successful.
- Help your child to give up the sucking habit during sleep. This is usually an involuntary process and a glove, sock, or thumb/finger guard can help stop the habit.
- Take one step at a time. Encourage your child not to suck during one daytime activity, like story time or television watching. Gradually add another activity until daytime sucking is eliminated.
- If your child is still regularly sucking their thumb at age 6, see your dentist or doctor for further support.
The First Dental Visit
It is recommended that your child has their first visit to the dentist around his or her first birthday, but it could be as early as you like if you notice something that concerns you.
Babies can get cavities soon after teeth appear. Cavities can interfere with eating and sleeping and can be painful. Dentists like to see children at a young age, before any major problems occur. When the first dental visit happens at a young age it usually means that it will be a fun experience for your child. The dentist will check your child’s teeth for any signs of tooth decay. This is a good time to talk with your dental hygienist about tooth brushing, eating habits and fluoride.
Preparing your child for the first visit:
- Read your child a book about going to the dentist.
- Take your child along when a sibling or friend has a dental visit. Let your child meet the members of the dental team.
- Don’t let your child know about any anxiety you may feel about going to the dentist. Your child may pick up on your fear if they hear you tell others about your visits to the dentist, especially if you use words like hurt, pain, needle, or drill.
- When you talk to your child about going to the dentist explain what will happen (“The dentist will look at your teeth” or “The dentist will count your teeth”) without adding words like “it won’t hurt” or “don’t be afraid”.
- See that your child has a good night’s sleep before the dental visit and try to book a morning appointment.
Oral Hygiene for Children
Should I clean my baby's teeth?
Definitely. Even before the first tooth appears, you can use a soft, clean wet face cloth to gently wipe inside your baby's mouth each day. As soon as the first tooth appears, begin using a small, soft bristled toothbrush to clean the tooth twice each day. Use only a small smear of fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush. Baby teeth are not completely hardened when they first come into the mouth and the fluoride in the toothpaste will help them to resist decay.
I find brushing my child's teeth awkward. Any suggestions?
Try having your child lie down with their head on your lap. If your child is standing, have his/her back to you with their head tilted slightly and resting against your body. Have your child hold a mirror while you brush and floss their teeth so they can see what is being done.
Is it important to brush before bed?
Yes. The bedtime brushing is the most important one of the day. If you don't get rid of the bacteria and sugar that cause cavities, they have all night to harm the teeth. During the day, saliva helps keep the mouth clean. When you are asleep, there is less saliva produced to clean the mouth, so removing the plaque and food from the teeth before bed is very important.
How to brush your child's teeth:
- Every day plaque bacteria collect on the inner, outer, and chewing surface of teeth and beneath the gums. Tooth brushing is one of the most effective ways to remove the plaque.
- The best toothbrush to use is one with soft, round-tipped bristles.
- A child will need a smaller brush than an adult.
- Young children have not yet developed their coordination enough to brush properly. Your child will need your supervision and help with brushing until the age when he or she can write (not print) their own name.
- When the bristles become bent or frayed, a new brush is needed.
- Start flossing your child's teeth when the teeth touch each other and you can no longer brush in between them.
For more information, see Brushing Tips and Flossing Tips.
Sealants
Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend sealants for your child’s teeth. Sealants are thin plastic coatings, easily applied in the dental office, on the chewing surfaces of back teeth - a prime spot for cavities. Sealants act as a barrier to prevent bacteria and food from collecting and sitting on the grooves and pits of teeth.
- Sealants are best suited for permanent first molars that come in around age 6 and permanent second molars that come in around age 12. It is important to have the sealant applied as soon as the tooth has fully come in to the mouth.
- Before the sealant is applied, the tooth is prepared by using a solution that cleans the tooth surface and helps the sealant stick to the tooth.
- Sealants may last for several years, but should always be examined at the child's regular checkup. Even if the sealant is lost, the material that has penetrated the enamel will still provide some protection. Sealants are easily replaced if lost.
- Sealants are effective in preventing decay in the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Fluoride helps fight decay on the smooth surfaces of the teeth.
Snack Facts for Children
Snacks are an important part of a child’s daily food intake not just a “treat” between meals.
Snack Facts:
- Frequent nibbling or sipping increases a child's risk for cavities. It’s not just sugar that contributes to cavities. There are many factors involved in tooth decay, including how often food is eaten and how long food stays on the teeth.
- Eating healthy food and brushing the teeth daily with fluoride toothpaste will help prevent tooth decay.
Tips for Healthy Snacking:
- Choose healthy snacks – choose foods from a least 2 of the 4 food groups in “Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating”.
- Offer 2 to 3 snacks per day – avoid nibbling and sipping all day.
- Change the snacks often – provide lots of variety in the snacks you offer.
Snack Suggestions for Hungry Children:
- Grain Products: bagels, breads, buns, cereals, crackers, muffins, pita breads, roti breads
- Vegetables and Fruit: applesauce, raw vegetables*, raw fruits*, fruit juices, vegetable juices
- Milk Products: milk, cheese, cottage cheese, ice milk, milk puddings, yogurt
- Meat and Alternatives: eggs, nuts*, peanut butter*, seeds*
- Mixed Foods: pizzas, sandwiches
Snack Suggestions for Thirsty Children:
- Offer water often throughout the day.
- Milk, yogurt drinks, vegetable juices, fruit juices, apples, grapes (cut in half for younger children)*, melons, oranges, peaches, cucumbers.
*These foods may cause choking in children under 4 years of age. Always supervise young children when they are eating.
Fluoride Facts
Dental decay is a common disease in North America. One way to help prevent decay is by using fluoride. Fluoride is a trace element found in water, plants and many foods.
Fluoride helps harden the tooth enamel and makes it more resistant to tooth decay. A small cavity can be stopped and even reversed by a process called “remineralization”, which is enhanced by fluoride.
Fluoride can be delivered to the teeth in many ways. These include:
- fluoridated water -- Some water supplies already naturally contain fluoride, for others, fluoride is added to the water supply. Three percent of the population in BC has access to fluoridated water. If you would like to know if your community's water supply contains fluoride, call your local water authority or health department.
- toothpaste – A fluoridated toothpaste should be used daily. Look for the Canadian Dental Association “Seal of Acceptance” on the label when choosing a toothpaste.
- mouth rinses – Mouth rinses that contain fluoride can be purchased over-the-counter. These products are useful for children over 6 years of age and adults who are susceptible to cavities.
- fluoride gels –These products can be purchased over-the-counter and are useful for those who are highly susceptible to cavities. These people could include people who;
- have a high experience of root cavities
- experience an extremely dry mouth
- wear braces or orthodontic appliances
- have rampant or excessive cavities
- have tooth sensitivity
- professional fluoride application – These are stronger fluorides and are available only at a dental office. Not everyone is given a professional fluoride application as it depends on your dental health needs. They are commonly recommended for children and those listed above.
- supplements (tablet, lozenge, drop) – These products may be recommended for people at high risk for tooth decay. Ask your dental professional about supplements.
Fluoride Safety
- Fluoride is very effective in controlling dental decay when used properly.
- Use only a small amount of toothpaste; starting with just a smear of toothpaste when baby teeth first come into the mouth. You can gradually increase the toothpaste so that you are using an amount the size of a small pea by the time all the teeth have erupted.
- Fluoridated products, especially mouth rinses should not be given to a child under 6 years of age, or to anyone who cannot spit.
- Keep fluoridated products out of the reach of children. Parental supervision is needed when children are using fluoridated products.
Information in this section has been adapted from the University of Manitoba, Dental Hygiene Program website, “Wisdom Tooth”. Used with permission.