Dental health basics parents need to know

DR. NATALIE MARTINEZ- ROGERS

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February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and we are fortunate to have Natalie Rogers, DDS contributing all month long to help parents and caregivers protect their children’s smiles as they grow.

Raising a child is a daunting task. With so many decisions to make and feel uncertain about, don’t let oral health be one of them! Just follow these simple steps to ensure you are doing the best you can to ensure their teeth are cared for properly.

For most infants, the first tooth erupts at around 7 months. Irrespective of when that first tooth comes for your child, caring for their teeth starts at this very moment. Brushing should occur on a daily basis eventually increasing to 2 minutes of brushing, 2 times per day by the time your child has their full set of “baby” teeth, around 2 years of age.

Selecting a Toothpaste

Toothpaste with fluoride is always best, but not before 2 years of age. Excessive ingestion of fluoride can cause problems with their teeth in the future. Early on, you should use a fluoride-free training toothpaste. Begin transitioning to a fluoridated paste after 2 years, but just wet the bristles with paste until your child can consistently spit and not swallow the paste. This way you can avoid the excess intake of fluoride.............