Steps on cleaning your child’s teeth

* You will want to begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or soft washcloth. Remember as we stated in a prior post, as soon as teeth appear, decay can occur. A baby’s front four teeth usually push through the gums at about six months of age, although some children do not have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months.

* For children younger than three years of age, caregivers should begin brushing children’s teeth as soon as they begin to come into the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day. If your child is brushing their own teeth make sure to supervise their brushing to ensure that they use of the appropriate amount of toothpaste. Afterwards make sure to put the toothpaste back out of reach of children, as some kids will eat it specially if you have favored toothpaste for kids. Excess fluoride can be harmful is swallowed

* For children three to six years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Continue to  supervise children’s brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.

* Until you are comfortable that your child can brush on his or her own, continue to brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a child-size toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. When your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin flossing their teeth daily.