Healthy Smiles: A Quick Guide to Your Child’s Oral Health

Baby’s teeth begin to grow as early as the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy. While pregnant:

• Eat right: include foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D in your diet.
• Continue with healthy habits: brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups. Oral health issues in mothers have been linked to early birth, low birth weight, and more of a chance of cavities for the child.
• Most dental procedures are safe. Tell your dentist if you are pregnant before having X-rays or any treatment.

Providence Health Plan recommends your child’s first dental check-up to be six months after their first tooth comes in or when they are 12 months old, whichever comes first.

If your child goes to bed with a bottle, fill it only with water. Begin teaching your baby to drink from a cup around 6 months of age.

Brush correctly. For children older than 2 years brush their teeth with a soft toothbrush that fits their mouth and only need a pea-size amount of toothpaste. Toothpaste should be spit out not swallowed. For children under age 2 years use water or a non-fluoride toothpaste. Floss as soon as two teeth touch. Children can brush their teeth themselves with supervision around age 7.

Sealants can prevent cavities in the back teeth that have deep grooves (molars). A thin plastic coating is painted on these teeth to keep food and germs from building up. Talk to your child’s dentist to find out if getting sealants is right for them.

Fluoride can also help prevent cavities and can be found in drinking water and toothpaste. Not all water contains fluoride. If your child drinks mostly bottled water or the fluoride levels in the tap water are low in your area, ask your child’s dentist or pediatrician about a fluoride treatment.

Schedule a dental check-up as often as their dentist thinks is needed, and make sure your child’s teeth are brushed two times a day and flossed once everyday.