nutch_noindex
Search Icon
    Menu Button
    Stanford Children's Health
    DonateContactMyChart LoginFind a Doctor
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • Contact
    • Refer a Patient
    • En Español
    • Our Locations
    • Medical Services
    • About Us
    • Research & Innovation
    • Patients & Visitors
    • For Health Professionals
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • En Español
    • MyChart Login
    • Recently Visited
      • Our Locations
      • Medical Services
      • About Us
      • Research & Innovation
      • Patients & Visitors
      • For Health Professionals
      CANCEL
      • View More Results

      Loading...

      COVID-2019 Alert

      Information about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Read the latest >

      Información sobre el coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Aprenda más >

      /nutch_noindex

       


      Care of Children's Mouth and Teeth 

       

      Most pediatric dentists will agree that regular dental care should begin by the time a child is 1 year old. And most children should have a dental check-up at least twice each year after that. Some children may need evaluations and care more often. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) advises the following:

      Birth to age 6 months 

      • Clean the infant's mouth with gauze or use a soft infant toothbrush after feedings and at bedtime.

      • Talk with your child's healthcare provider about fluoride supplements, if you live in an area without fluoridated water.

      • Regulate feeding habits (bottle-feeding and breastfeeding).

      Ages 6 to 12 months

      • During this time, the first tooth should appear. Talk with a pediatric dentist for an exam.

      • Ask about fluoride varnish that may be applied to the teeth every 3 to 6 months.

      • Brush teeth after each feeding and at bedtime with a small, soft-bristled brush and a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice.

      • As the child begins to walk, stay alert for possible dental or facial injuries.

      Ages 12 to 24 months 

      • Follow the schedule of dental exams and cleanings, as recommended by your child's pediatric dentist. Generally, dental exams and cleanings are advised every 6 months for children and adults.

      • As your child learns to rinse and spit, brushing with a pea-sized portion of fluoridated toothpaste is appropriate, in most cases.

      Facts about baby teeth

      • Correct care of a child's baby teeth (primary teeth) is very important, as these teeth hold space for the future eruption of permanent teeth.

      • If a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space needed for the permanent teeth is lost. It can only be regained through orthodontic treatment.

      • Infected baby teeth can cause the permanent teeth to develop incorrectly. This can cause stains, pits, and weaker teeth.

      • Primary teeth are important in speech development.

      • Primary teeth aid in chewing food correctly, promoting healthy nutrition.

      • Most children begin losing their baby teeth around the ages of 5 or 6, often with the front teeth first. They continue to lose baby teeth until the age of 12 or 13. This is when all of the permanent teeth finally come through, except for the third molars (wisdom teeth). These molars begin to appear around ages 17 to 21.

      Diet and dental care for children

      The AAPD advises the following to make sure that your child eats correctly to maintain a healthy body and teeth:

      • Ask your child's pediatric dentist to help you assess your child's diet.

      • Shop smart. Don't stock your pantry with sugary or starchy snacks.

      • Buy "fun foods" just for special times.

      • Limit the number of snacks and choose nutritious snacks.

      • Provide a balanced diet and save foods with sugar or starch for mealtimes.

      • Don't put your young child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice.

      • If your child chews gum or sips soda, choose those without sugar.

      Related Topics

      • Neurological Exam for Children
      • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
      nutch_noindex
      • About Us
      • Contact
      • MyChart Login
      • Careers
      • Blog
      • Refer a Patient
      • Download from App Store Download From Google Play
      • Notice of Nondiscrimination
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Code of Conduct

      © 2021 Stanford Children's Health

      About

      • About Us
      • Our Hospital
      • Patient Stories
      • Blog
      • News
      • Send a Greeting Card
      • New Hospital
      • Careers

      Connect

      • Donate
      • Refer a Patient
      • Contact Us
      • Pay Your Bill

      Find

      • Doctors
      • Locations
      • Services
      • Classes
      Download from App Store Download From Google Play

      Also Find Us on:

      • facebook
      • twitter
      • youtube
      • linkedin
      US News & World Report Badge
      • Stanford Medicine
      • Stanford University
      • Stanford Health Care
      • Lucile Packard Foundation
      • Notice of Nondiscrimination
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Code of Conduct
      • © 2021 Stanford Children's Health
      /nutch_noindex