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You and Your Child
Checklist
Parents
- We think our parents are very important too, and want them to see their dentist regularly. Good oral health in the parent will lead to good oral health and less tooth decay in their child. We make referrals for parents too.
Birth to 6 Months
- Clean the baby's mouth
with a gauze or washcloth after feedings and at bedtime.
Teeth begin to erupt at 4-8 months of age.
- Regulate feeding
habits and do not encourage between feeding snacks or
beverages containing large amounts of sugar.
- Offer your baby water
on a regular basis - they should drink as much water as they
do milk or juices.
- Do not put your child
to bed with a baby bottle. I would suggest feeding your
child with the bottle or breast-feeding them - then change
their diaper, put on pajamas, wipe out their mouth or brush
their teeth and gums with a soft bristle brush, offer them a
bottle of water then place them in bed.
- Do not breast feed
your child to sleep because breast milk also has sugar
(lactose) in it - just as cow's milk has sugar (lactose) in
it.
- If your child
wants to suck their thumb, offer them a pacifier.
6 to 12 Months
- Your child's first
tooth should appear at age 4-8 months.
- Begin brushing the
teeth after each feeding with a water dampened small
soft-bristled brush.
- Baby begins to
walk. I would recommend not allowing your toddler to carry a baby bottle
or sippy cup while walking about because they could fall and injure their
mouth and increase their risk of early childhood tooth decay.
12 to 18 Months
- Make your child?s first dental appointment with a PEDIATRIC DENTIST who will teach you how to prevent tooth decay in your child.
- Wean your baby from
the breast or bottle at age 12 months. If you want to
continue breast-feeding, be certain to brush the teeth after
each feeding.
- See your dentist for
your baby's first dental examination at age 12-15 months.
- Start using a
pea-sized portion of fluoride toothpaste when the child is
able to rinse - especially at bedtime.
- Give your toddler
healthy snacks and do not allow them to chew gum.
- Stop pacifier
use at age 12 months of age or earlier. Prolonged pacifier
use
can cause dental malformations, poor oral habits and encourage
or promote ear infections.
24 Months
- Most or all of the
primary teeth have erupted.
- Follow the schedule of
exams and cleanings recommended by your pediatric dentist.
- Early dental examinations
and cleanings when there are not cavities present is the only way you
can insure that your child will have a positive and comfortable first
experience with a pediatric dentist.
If you want more information, please feel free to contact us
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