How Can You Care for Your Child's Teeth

The first set of teeth that your child gets is called primary teeth. These teeth play a crucial role in your child's development. They aid in speech development, enable your child to chew food, and hold space in the jaws for the permanent teeth.

Start Cleaning Your Child's Teeth When the First Tooth Appears

As soon as teeth develop, it's time to start caring for them. The best way to clean your baby's first set of teeth is by using a soft infant toothbrush and a small amount of fluoride toothpaste to gently brush the teeth. For about the first six months or so, you will use this technique to clean your child's teeth at least once a day. After age two, you can increase the amount of toothpaste to a pea-sized amount on the toothbrush. Make sure you help your child brush their teeth until they are old enough to do it themselves. (Every child is different — some kids can start brushing on their own as early as age three or four.)

Use only a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste for children under the age of three—a smear or rice grain-sized amount is usually plenty. Once your child turns three, you can use a small pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Always make sure to use the correct amount of toothpaste for your child's age and only use a pea-sized amount for children ages two and three.

Besides teaching your children how to develop healthy oral hygiene habits from a young age, there are a few other things you can do to protect their smile for years to come.

• Make sure to schedule a visit with us every six months for regular checkups and cleanings. These visits allow our doctors and hygienists to check your child's mouth for any potential problems and make any necessary treatment recommendations.
• Make sure your children also come in for orthodontic evaluations around the age of seven. We can identify potential problems with bite development early on and recommend treatments that will help ensure your child has a healthy smile in the future.
• Encourage everyone in your family to practice healthy oral hygiene habits at home by brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each time, flossing daily, and rinsing with a mouthwash recommended by your dentist. We also recommend limiting the amount of sugary foods and beverages that your family eats and drinks throughout the day.

Visit us at 3895 W 7800 S #203, West Jordan, UT 84088. Contact us at (801) 282-6901 or visit our website to book an appointment with us.