Clean your child’s mouth with a damp gauze or cloth after feeding and at bedtime.

Never give your child a bottle of milk, juice or sweetened liquid as a pacifier at naptime or bedtime.Never let your child fall asleep with a bottle of sweetened liquid or milk in his/her mouth. Breastfed infants who fall asleep while breastfeeding are also at risk of nursing caries.

Wean from breast or bottle by the first birthday.Regulate feeding habits.

Visit the Pediatric Dentist when the first tooth appears or if first tooth does not erupt by age 1.

We recommend a preventative check-up at 18 to 24 months of age to ensure that parents have all the tools and knowledge to adequately care for their children’s teeth.

Talk to the Pediatric Dentist about fluoride treatment and preventive dental care.

As soon as the first teeth erupt, begin brushing them with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-size dab of fluoride toothpaste.Continue cleaning other areas of the mouth with a clean damp gauze or cloth.

All the abovementioned will help to prevent bottle/nursing caries.

The following are some signs and symptoms of nursing/bottle caries :

i) Initially,a whitish area will appear on the front surfaces of the upper front teeth,near the gumline.

ii) This soon turns to a light yellow area of decay,which spreads rapidly to involve all surfaces of the front teeth, leaving only a little area at the biting edge unaffected.

iii) The back teeth will also decay.Toothache and infection at this stage can cause great discomfort to your child.In severe cases,only the roots of the teeth remain.

Parents continue responsibility for cleaning child’s mouth,allowing your child to participate according to interest and dexterity.

Begin flossing in any areas where teeth are touching.The best time to brush and floss your child’s teeth is at bedtime.  Since there is very little saliva flowing during sleep, it is important to have clean teeth at this time.

The best way to teach a child how to brush is to lead by good example.Show your child when you brush and floss your teeth.This helps to teach him the importance of good oral hygiene.

Provide nutritious, well-balanced meals. Plan snacks that contribute to daily nutrient intake and enhance dental health. Make sure your child gets the fluoride needed for strong tooth enamel.

At age three ,your child should start on a regular schedule of dental check-ups including fluoride treatments to give added protection against decay.The dental check up should be scheduled at a three months interval.Once your child has attained consistently good oral hygiene and dental health,the checkup could be scheduled to six monthly.

The Pediatric Dentist will also advise use of Fissure Sealants to protect all the primary molars once they are erupted. Fissure sealants act as shields in sealing out decay.  At each check-up, the Pediatric Dentist will determine the appropriateness of sealants for your child, and if already placed, they will check the integrity of each sealant and repair or replace if necessary.

Begin transferring responsibility for brushing and flossing to your child with parental supervision.It is important to note that until a child is able to brush and floss effectively on their own, you are responsible for their daily oral hygiene.  Most children’s coordination becomes adequate for brushing and flossing between the ages of 8 and 10, some even later.  

Children should brush with type of toothbrush and techniques recommended by their dentist. It is also important to change toothbrush every 3 to 4 months when the bristles wear off.If unsure,there are also toothbrushes made with indicator to guide you when to change your brush.

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