Caring for Baby Teeth!

As soon as babies are able to grab the toothbrush, they fight to brush their own teeth. This battle never ends and most of us parents are left to figure out ways to get those chompers brushed properly.

The reality is that kids don’t develop the manual dexterity they need to brush their teeth efficiently until age 7 or 8. Parents need to assist kids by brushing for them first and then letting them brush after.

Why should parents do the brushing first? The simple reason is that if parents wait until the child has brushed, there is no more toothpaste left on the toothbrush.

As children get older and able to brush properly, parents need to supervise the brushing until certain that all the hard-to-reach areas in the back teeth are clean.

5 steps to keep your child’s teeth healthy and cavity-free:

Brush twice daily - after breakfast and before going to bed.
Use a smear (size of a rice grain) of fluoride toothpaste if your child is too young to spit and a pea-size amount when your child is able to spit.
Floss between teeth where contact is tight and the toothbrush bristles cannot reach.
Provide healthy snacks and avoid frequent sugary drinks.
Have check-ups with your pediatric dentist starting at age 1.

Eagle Crest Pediatric Dentistry

Board-Certified Doctors

Proudly serving Havertown and the surrounding areas of Ardmore, Haverford, Broomall, Newtown Square, Drexel Hill, Springfield, Clifton Heights, Bala Cynwyd, Lansdowne, Ridley Park, Woodlyn, Prospect Park, Bryn Mawr, Wynnewood, Overbrook, Holmes, Media, Darby, Folsom, Morton, Yeadon, Swarthmore, Wallingford.