Care for your child’s teeth

Start cleaning your baby’s mouth early

• Even before your baby has teeth, it is important to keep the mouth and gums clean.
• Wipe your baby’s gums with a clean, damp cloth twice a day, after their first feeding and before bed.
• Introducing your baby to the habit of having their teeth and gums cleaned should start right away.  This will:
  • Create a healthy habit
  • Make brushing easier once your baby has teeth
  • Make seeing an oral health professional easier (dental therapist, registered dental hygienist or dentist)
  • Reduce the risk of cavities
  • Assist with teething
• As soon as the first tooth appears, start using an infant sized, soft bristled toothbrush with a grain of rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.  Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as they have teeth!

Position the baby or child in such a way that you have complete access and view of all the teeth.

Here are some examples according to age:

• 0 to 6 months:
  • Lay your baby in a comfortable position, making sure you can see into their mouth.
  • Use a clean, damp cloth around your finger to wipe the teeth and gums along the cheek side and tongue side.
  • Wipe your baby’s gums at least twice a day – after their first feeding and before bed.
  • Do not use toothpaste.
• 6 to 12 months:
  • Once teeth appear, it is time to start using a baby-sized, soft bristled toothbrush with a grain of rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
  • Lay your child down or position them so you can see inside their mouth – you need to see where the toothbrush is going and to pull back the cheeks making sure all areas are being cleaned.
  • Gently brush the teeth and gums.
  • Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day – after their first feeding and before bed.
  • Replace toothbrushes every three months or sooner if the bristles start to spread off to the side.
• Toddlers – Age 1 to 3 years:
  • Use a soft, child-size toothbrush with a grain of rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
  • Lay your child down or position them so you can see inside their mouth – you need to see where the toothbrush is going and to pull back the cheeks making sure all areas are being cleaned.
  • Gently brush teeth and gums all along the check side, tongue side, and where they bite.
  • Your child might want to try and brush their own teeth – let them practice. You will still have to brush for them to ensure all areas are being cleaned properly.
  • It is very important to supervise your child at all times when they have a toothbrush.  
  • Brush your child’s teeth for them twice a day – after their first meal and last thing before bed.
  • Brushing before bed is very important – food, sugar, and bacteria sitting on the teeth all night causes cavities.
  • Floss once a day with string type floss or floss picks to clean in between the teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach. It is important to floss between the teeth that contact/touch each other.
  • Replace toothbrushes every three months or sooner if the bristles start to spread off to the side.
• 3 to 8 years:
  • Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on a soft bristled, child-size toothbrush.
  • Lay your child down or position them so you can see inside their mouth – you need to see where the toothbrush is going and to pull back the cheeks making sure all areas are being cleaned.
  • Gently brush teeth and gums all along the check side, tongue side, and biting surfaces.
  • Brush twice a day for 2 minutes – after their first meal and last thing before bed.
  • Brushing before bed is very important – food, sugar, and bacteria sitting on the teeth all night causes cavities.
  • Make sure your child spits out the toothpaste once you’ve finished brushing.
  • Rinsing after brushing is not needed!  Fluoride toothpaste works best when it has the chance to sit on the teeth for a little while, so the fluoride can be absorbed by the surface of the teeth.
  • Fluoride toothpaste reduces cavities by strengthening the outer layer of your teeth (the enamel).
  • Floss once a day with string type floss or floss picks to clean in between the teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach. It is important to floss between the teeth that contact/touch each other.
  • Replace toothbrushes every three months or sooner if the bristles start to spread off to the side. 
  • Around the age of 8 most children have the hand control and skills to brush and floss on their own, however; supervision is still important to make sure it’s being done right.

• Start flossing your child’s teeth as soon as they have teeth!  Flossing is especially important once your child has teeth that touch one another.
• Flossing cleans the sides of the teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach.
• Lay child down or position them so you can see inside their mouth – you need to see where the floss is going and to pull back the cheeks making sure all areas are being cleaned.
• Floss sticks make the job easier for everyone – parents and kids.
• Around the age of 8 most children have the hand control and skills to brush and floss on their own, however; supervision is still important to make sure it’s being done right.

Use Lift the Lip to spot problems early

Lift the Lip is a simple and easy way for parents and caregivers to check their child’s teeth on a regular basis for signs of tooth decay and gum disease:

• The earliest sign of tooth decay appears as white chalky spots on the teeth
• Cavities might look like brown spots or holes in the teeth
• Also look for lumps, bumps or red irritation on the gums

If you notice anything unusual, contact your health center or oral health professional (dental therapist, registered dental hygienist or dentist) as soon as possible - it is best to have an expert opinion.  

Your oral health professional can help treat any small problems before they turn into big problems, and help keep any tooth decay from spreading to neighbouring teeth.

• Lift the Lip with Healthy Smile Happy Child (The Children’s Hospital Research Institute)

Bring your child by age one

• All children should have their first dental visit by their first birthday, or as soon as possible once they turn one.
• Seeing a dentist or other oral health professional by age one helps to prevent problems before they start.
• Kids who see an oral health professional regularly from an early age (and not just when they are in pain or there is a problem) will be more comfortable with dental visits later in childhood.
• The oral health professional can help with any questions you might have about
  • Brushing and flossing
  • Fluoride
  • How to prevent cavities
  • Healthy snacks
  • Baby bottle/sippy cup use
  • Thumb sucking
  • Pacifiers

Help your child feel comfortable at the dentist

• It is important to not discuss your fears and bad experiences with your child.  Allow them to have their own experience.
• If you are afraid, your child will sense your fear - have someone else take them to their appointment.
• Make sure family members and friends do not discuss going to the dentist in a negative way around your child.
• Try to let your child know that going to the dentist or oral health professional is a normal thing that everybody does to take good care of themselves - don’t make it seem like a big deal. 
• Take your child to meet the oral health care provider before the appointment.
• Book a time that your child will not be tired (for example, a morning appointment).
• Do not use going to the oral health care provider as a punishment.  Try not to say things like:
  • “If you don’t brush your teeth, you will have to go to the dentist!”
    • Going to the dentist is not a punishment, and your child should go to the dentist regardless. 
  • “If you don’t brush your teeth, the dentist is going to give you a needle!”
• Practice at home by having your child lay down, and look in their mouth, count their teeth, look for sugar bugs, shiny teeth, etc.
• Create good dental habits and reduce the need for dental treatment by brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing once a day, and limit sugary food and drinks at home.
• Model healthy practices - get your own teeth checked at least once a year.
• Start dental visits early – first visit by first birthday.
• Don’t wait until there is pain.