Important Dental Tips For Your Child
18mo-5 yrs
Big Picture
Now that your toddler is off the bottle, continue looking in your child's mouth for signs of cavities by lifting up their lips and checking. If you see any white or brown spots, you need to visit the dentist immediately. Remember: you can pass tooth-causing decay through saliva! Make sure to read each section of oral health for your baby so you have all the steps correct! It is important!
Snacks Are Good, Right?
We all know that children love to snack. Just remember that sweet and starchy snacks like chips and crackers should be limited. Constant snacking can cause cavities.
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Each time that your child or baby snacks on snacks or drinks sugary drinks, there is a 20 minute "attack" on teeth.
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This attack is from acid!
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So constant snacking can cause "attacks" to happen much more frequently causing your little one's teeth to be broken down more.
Tooth Brushing
Make sure you brush morning and night, before bedtime.
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Use a "pea-sized" amount of fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush as soon as the child knows how to spit it out.
At this stage, children want to try to brush on their own but help is needed.
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Most children do not brush effectively by themselves until they are 6-8 years old so guide the way!
Wrong Amount of toothpaste Right amount of toothpaste for under 2, do a little bit more if over 2 to get that "pea-sized" amount
REMEMBER:
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Limit the number of times toddler eats snacks each day
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Brush toddler's teeth after breakfast and before bedtime
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Visit the dentist regularly!
adapted from:
Adapted from: FDA MedWatch and http://www.dentalcaretoday.net/index.asp?f=childdentaltips
and
Washington State Department of Health
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