1. When should you start brushing?
You should start
cleaning your infant's teeth as soon
as he gets his first
tooth (and his gums even before
he gets teeth). At first, you can just use a water-soaked gauze pack to clean
your infant's teeth. As he gets more, you can use a soft children's toothbrush.
2. What kind of toothpaste is best?
Use just a small smear of fluoridated toothpaste. When your child is
about 2 years old, you can start to use a small, pea-size amount of
toothpaste. You should follow up their efforts by gently brushing the teeth
again.
3.When should you make a dental appointment?
The first visit to the dentist should be by around
the third birthday. If your child has risk factors for
having dental problems then they are advice only not later than 1 year of age.
RISK FACTORS:
* Family members with a lot of cavities, sleeping
with a pacifier or bottle, teeth staining, thumb sucking.
4. What is baby bottle tooth decay?
It is tooth
decay in infants and toddlers.
When teeth are frequently exposed to
sugar-containing fluids (including breast milk and formula) for long periods,
the potential for decay increase dramatically.
Fight it by not letting your child go to sleep with a
pacifier or bottle filled with anything but water.
