Parent Tips

Cavity Prevention

By The American Dental Association

The American Dental Association on their website offers these age-by-age tips for parents:

Babies, Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers

• After each feeding, clean the baby’s gums with a clean wet gauze pad or washcloth.
• When teeth start to appear, brush them with a child’s size toothbrush and plain water. At the direction of your dentist, some children under two may benefit from the use of fluoride toothpaste. Look for toothbrushes that carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance. They have been evaluated by the ADA for safety and effectiveness.
• Begin flossing when at least two teeth begin to touch.
• Start dental visits by the child’s first birthday. Make visits regularly. If you think your child has dental problems, take the child to the dentist as soon as possible.
• Brush teeth of children over age two with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and make sure to floss daily. Look for toothpastes that carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance. They have been evaluated by the ADA for safety and effectiveness.
• Children should be supervised while brushing to keep them from swallowing the toothpaste.

School-Age Children and Adolescents

• Until they are six or seven years old, continue to brush you children’s teeth twice a day with a child’s size toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Continue to assist with flossing as needed. Look for dental products that carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance. They have been evaluated by the ADA for safety and effectiveness.
• By age six or seven, children should be able to brush their own teeth twice a day but often require supervision until about age 10 or 11, to make sure they are doing a thorough job. Since each child is different, your dentist can help you determine whether your child is brushing and flossing properly.
• Visit you dentist regularly.
• Ask the dentist about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces to the back teeth where decay often starts.
• Adolescents may need reminders about practicing good oral hygiene, the importance of regular dental check ups and making nutritious food and beverage choices, the benefit of using mouthguards, and the risks of oral piercing and of tobacco use.