Basic Dental Care For Children

Infants:

• Baby teeth will start to appear around 6 months of age. Start brushing your babies teeth twice daily with an infant toothbrush. Infants and children's toothpaste can be found at most pharmacies.
• DO NOT put your baby in his/her crib with a bottle of juice or milk. This can lead to extensive decay of the baby teeth (referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay). The same applies for older babies and toddlers who drink out of sippie cups.
• If you have well water, have the water tested to determine the amount of fluoride that is present in your well water. Norwood Dental will be happy to provide you with a well water testing kit. If the amount of fluoride present is too low, your dentist or physician can prescribe fluoride supplements.

Toddlers:

• Try to prevent exposure of your toddlers teeth to excessive amounts of sugar. Limit exposure to juices, soft drinks, etc. and always assist the toddler in thoroughly brushing after consumptions of these sugary items.
• Bring your child in for his/her first check-up and cleaning around age three.
• As your child grows, introduce flossing (with mom or dad's help). Flossing should be done once daily.

Older children:

• Your child will start to lose his/her baby teeth around the age of five.
• Children get four new molars (two on top, two on bottom) when they are six, and another four molars when they are twelve.
• Most children have a complete set of adult teeth by age 12.

• Your child/ren should be seen twice per year for cleanings and check-ups.
• All children should brush their teeth twice daily and floss once daily.
• Pop drinking should be limited, if not avoided completely, due to the high content of sugar and the acidic nature of all pops!
• Talk with your child about the danger of tobacco- both smoking and smokeless. Oral cancer kills one American every hour!

We are always here to answer any questions for you! Please call us...we'd love to help!