Focus on prevention: Healthy smiles for life.
Empower your patients to prevent cavities, avoid painful treatments and save money by educating them on the benefits of these simple behavior changes.
Avoid sharing saliva
Tell parents that the bacteria that cause tooth decay can be transmitted to their children through saliva-sharing activities, such as sharing utensils, food or licking pacifiers. Once an infant has this bacteria, they are much more susceptible to cavities as early as their first tooth.
Brush morning and night
- Before baby has teeth: Clean gums with a soft cloth.
- When teeth appear: Begin brushing teeth with a small, soft toothbrush without toothpaste and clean gums with a soft cloth.
- At age two: Brush teeth with a pea-sized drop of fluoridated toothpaste on a small toothbrush and wipe teeth when finished until child can rinse and spit.
- Don’t share spoons, forks, cups or any utensil that could transmit cavity causing bacteria to baby.
Eat right for dental health
- Do not dip a pacifier in sugary substances or put sweetened liquids in a baby bottle.
- Never leave a child unattended with a baby bottle, especially at bedtime.
- Never put baby to bed with a bottle or, if you do, only put water in it.
- Limit sugary foods and drinks, including sticky foods such as raisins and fruit roll-ups.
See a dentist or health care provider regularly!
- Every child should start regular visits to the dentist by age one to determine if they are at risk for dental disease and to educate parents on preventative measures.
- Parents should also see a dentist regularly to keep their mouths clean and limit the cavity-causing bacteria, which can easily transfer to babies.
