Parent Dental Guide

Baby teeth can develop cavities as soon as they appear. Frequent exposure to sugary drinks can raise the risk. Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle containing milk, formula, or juice. Discuss feeding routines and dental care with the team without delaying needed nutrition.

Children’s teeth emerge and fall out at different times. Baby teeth help with chewing, speech, and space for permanent teeth. Ask the dentist about delayed eruption, a tooth coming in behind another tooth, or changes in the bite.

Sucking is a normal source of comfort for infants. Prolonged habits can affect the developing bite. Discuss a gentle plan to stop by about age three, using encouragement rather than punishment. Never dip a pacifier in sugar or honey.

Keep up with your own dental care during pregnancy and tell your dentist about the pregnancy and medications. For your baby, establish a dental visit when the first tooth appears and no later than the first birthday. Ask about feeding, cleaning, and preparing for that first visit.

A training cup is a step toward drinking from an open cup. The drink and how often a child sips matter: avoid carrying sugary drinks around all day or taking them to bed. Discuss the transition with your child’s care team.

Start brushing when the first tooth appears, twice daily with a soft brush. Use a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste before age three; for ages three to six, use a pea-sized amount. Help your child brush and spit out excess toothpaste. Clean between teeth that touch and ask for a demonstration.

Regular dental visits, fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth, and limiting frequent sugary snacks and drinks work together to lower cavity risk. No routine guarantees that cavities will never occur. Ask about fluoride and sealants based on your child’s risk.

Offer a varied, balanced diet. Frequent sugary snacks and sipping sweet drinks throughout the day expose teeth to repeated acid attacks. Water is a useful choice between meals. Tell the team about feeding challenges so advice can fit your family.

Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in some oral-care products and sugar-free gum. Evidence for an additional cavity-prevention benefit in children is inconsistent. It does not replace fluoride toothpaste or regular care. Ask whether a product is appropriate for your child; gum is unsuitable for children who cannot chew it safely.

Tobacco can harm oral and general health. Teens can discuss tobacco use and help with stopping with a dentist or medical professional. Have persistent mouth sores, unexplained patches, or other changes examined.

Oral jewelry can damage teeth and gums and cause infection or swelling. Talk to the dentist before considering a piercing. Seek urgent help for swelling that affects breathing or swallowing.