What Can Parents and Caregivers Do?

• Pregnant women should get prenatal care and eat a healthy diet that includes folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and possibly cleft lip/palate. During pregnancy avoid tobacco and alcohol, and check with a doctor before taking any medications.
• Put only water in your baby’s bottle at bedtime or naptime. Milk, formula, juices, and other drinks contain sugar. Prolonged exposure to sugary drinks while baby sleeps – when saliva flow is reduced – increases the risk of tooth decay.
• Take your child for an oral health assessment between ages 1-2, and every six months thereafter.
• Protect your child’s teeth with fluoride. Use a fluoridated toothpaste, putting only a pea-sized amount on your child’s toothbrush. If your drinking water is not fluoridated, talk to a dentist or physician about the best way to protect your child’s teeth.
• Encourage your children to eat regular nutritious meals and to avoid frequent between-meal snacking.
• Talk to your child’s dentist about dental sealants, which protect teeth from decay.
• Make sure your child wears a helmet when bicycling and uses protective headgear and mouth guards in other sports activities.