Children need to understand the importance of good oral care as early as possible.
Poor oral health can negatively affect how a young mouth develops. It can also impact a child’s confidence, social skills, and potential for success later in life. Oral health is, therefore, essential to a child’s overall health and well-being.
How to clean a baby’s mouth
It is important to begin caring for a child’s mouth as soon as they are born. A newborn may not have any teeth, but their gums will protect the bone and roots of their teeth when they do appear. Wipe the gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth, especially after feedings and before bedtime.
Bottle-feeding tips and pacifiers
- Place only breast milk, formula, milk, or water in bottles.
- Avoid adding sugar to the milk or filling the bottles with sugary drinks such as sugar water, fruit juice, and soft drinks.
- Babies should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed. Try to avoid letting babies sleep with a feeding bottle in their mouths.
- Sucking on a pacifier or thumb for too long can affect the development of your child’s teeth and mouth. Discourage thumb-sucking and extended use of the pacifier, and never dip the pacifier in sugar or honey.
- Wean your child off their pacifier by the age of two-and-a-half years.
First tooth, first birthday milestones
- Clean the mouth twice a day when the first baby tooth starts to come in. It is especially important to clean your baby’s teeth before bedtime. Smear a small amount of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) on their toothbrush.
- Regular dental check-ups are important to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy. Take your baby to the dentist after the first tooth comes in and no later than their first birthday.
- Encourage drinking from a cup by their first birthday. An open cup will help your baby learn to sip and is better for your baby’s teeth.
Growing up
Promote healthy, low-sugar diets: Nutrition and oral health are closely related. Sugar, in particular, has a direct impact on oral health. Limit your child’s intake of sugary snacks and drinks. Having sugar throughout the day increases the risk of developing tooth decay.
Make sure children brush for two minutes, twice a day. Children between the ages of 3 and 6 should use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, while younger children need just a smear. Brushing teeth for two minutes, twice daily, is an essential skill for a child’s long-term oral and overall health.
Teach the correct brushing technique: As they grow older, teach children how to brush their teeth properly – in circular motions – and supervise them as they learn to do it more independently. Remind them to brush all surfaces of their teeth, including the outside, inside, and chewing surfaces.
