Childhood Tooth Decay

After each meal, gently wipe your baby’s gums with a soft, clean cloth.

Avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle.

Schedule your child’s first dental visit by their first birthday, or when their first tooth appears.

Brush your child’s teeth twice each day. Use a soft, small-bristled toothbrush.

For children under age 2, use plain water to brush or a natural toothpaste.

When your child is old enough to brush on their own, watch them while they brush. Make sure they use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and spit out the toothpaste instead of swallowing.

It’s no surprise that most childhood cavities occur in the back teeth. Even with regular daily brushing, the back teeth can be hard to reach.

Dental sealants can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent cavities. Dental sealants are applied quickly, easily, and pain-free, and they prevent 80% of cavities.

Did you know that good oral health begins before a baby is even born?

Gum disease during pregnancy can harm the mother’s health and may be linked to low birth weight in babies. Mothers can unintentionally pass cavity-causing bacteria to newborns. And children are three times as likely to have cavities if their mothers have high levels of untreated tooth decay.

During pregnancy, it’s important to:

Make and keep regular dental appointments.

Brush your teeth with fluoride or a nano- hydroxyapatite toothpaste at least twice each day.

Drink water every day.

Talk to a dentist or doctor about ways to prevent or manage dental problems.

If you have nausea or “morning sickness,” rinse your mouth with 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed in a glass of water after you get sick. This will help wash stomach acid away and increase your oral pH to keep your tooth enamel safe.