Dental Hygiene: How to Care for Your Child's Teeth Good dental hygiene habits should begin before your child's first tooth comes in. Wiping your baby's gums with a soft damp cloth after feedings helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria. When teeth appear, start using a soft children's toothbrush twice a day.
Dental Care for Babies Starting your children young can insure that they will experience good dental health all through life.
Diapers and Dentists Parents should make their child's first dental appointment close to his or her first birthday, with follow-up visits scheduled every six months thereafter. While this may sound early -- after all, a child has usually sprouted the first tooth at around 6 months of age -- it's necessary to make sure tooth development is on track and to teach parents how to prevent cavities.
First dental visit There seems to be a lot of confusion amongst parents, pediatricians, and dentists about the correct timing for the first dental visit. Many "family" dentists may tell parents not to bring children to their practice before they have all their primary teeth (age two or three), sometimes they even recommend to wait until age 6.
