Simple Steps for Kids’ Smiles

Brush Up on Healthy Teeth

1.Start cleaning teeth early

As soon as the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with a clean, damp cloth every day. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. Begin using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is 2 years old. Use toothpaste with fluoride earlier if your child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

2.Use the right amount of fluoride toothpaste

Fluoride is important for fighting cavities. But if children younger than 6 years old swallow too much fluoride, their permanent teeth may have white spots. To keep this from happening, use only a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea). Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and to rinse well after brushing.

3.Supervise brushing

Brush your child’s teeth twice a day until your child has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone. Then continue to closely watch brushing to make sure the child is doing a thorough job and using only a small amount of toothpaste.

4.Talk to your child’s doctor or dentist

Check with the doctor or dentist about your child’s specific fluoride needs. After age 2, most children get the right amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day.

Parents of children older than 6 months should ask about the need for a fluoride supplement if drinking water does not have enough fluoride.
Do not let a child younger than 6 years old use a fluoride mouth rinse unless the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

A Quiz for Parents About Simple Steps for Kids’ Smiles

Learn more about keeping your child’s teeth healthy with this true or false quiz.

1. All children older than 6 months should receive a fluoride supplement every day.
False. Check with your child’s doctor or dentist about your child’s specific fluoride needs. Parents of a child older than 6 months should discuss the need for a fluoride supplement with the doctor or dentist if drinking water does not have enough fluoride to help prevent cavities.

2. Parents should start cleaning their child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.
True. Start cleaning as soon as the first tooth appears. Wipe teeth every day with a clean, damp cloth. Switch to a small, soft toothbrush as more teeth come in.

3. Parents should start brushing their child’s teeth with toothpaste that contains fluoride at age 3.
False. Parents should start using toothpaste with fluoride to brush their child’s teeth at age 2. Toothpaste with fluoride may be used earlier if the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

4. Children younger than 6 years should use enough toothpaste with fluoride to cover the toothbrush.
False. Young children should use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is important for fighting cavities, but if children younger than 6 years swallow too much fluoride, their permanent teeth may have white spots. Using no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with fluoride can help keep this from happening.

5. Parents should brush their child’s teeth twice a day until the child can handle the toothbrush alone.
True. Children usually do not have the skill to brush their teeth well until around age 4 or 5. Parents should brush their young child’s teeth thoroughly twice a day until the child can handle the toothbrush alone.

6. Young children should always use fluoride mouth rinses after brushing.
False. Fluoride mouth rinses have a high concentration of fluoride. Children younger than 6 years should not use fluoride mouth rinses unless the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it. Young children tend to swallow rather than spit, and swallowing too much fluoride before age 6 may cause the permanent teeth to have white spots.