Caring For Little Teeth

As soon as your child’s teeth start coming in, they need to be cared for; this can happen as early as age 6 months.

CAVITIES

Even baby teeth are at risk of developing cavities. A cavity is a hole in the hard outer surface of the tooth. Cavities can become painful. They are caused by bacteria in the mouth and, if left untreated, can cause an infection that can spread to other parts of the tooth or even somewhere else in the body
The American Dental Association has tips to help fight cavities for all ages (Box), especially brushing and cleaning between the teeth.

BRUSHING

Young children, from the time they get their first tooth to about 3 years of age, will need your help brushing. You will need to do the brushing for them until they can handle the brush well enough to do a good job, cleaning all surfaces of every tooth. This could be necessary until age 7 years or so.1 With children 3 years and younger, use a smear of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) on a child-sized toothbrush.

Children 3 years and older can use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Encourage your child to spit the toothpaste out after brushing. Swallowing too much fluoride may cause discolorations, most likely small white spots, to form on the permanent teeth that are developing beneath the gums.

CLEAN BETWEEN THE TEETH

As soon as 2 teeth are touching side by side, food can get caught between them. The bacteria in the mouth create acid from this food, and the acid can cause cavities. In younger children, you can gently clean the space between teeth that are next to each other once a day, using dental floss, floss holders, or tiny brushes made for cleaning between the teeth. You should supervise older children who can use these interdental cleaners by themselves.

LIMIT SUGARY SNACKS AND DRINKS

Sugary foods and drinks put children at the highest risk of cavities. For this reason, aim for a healthy diet low in sugar.

Avoid letting your child suck on or chew sticky candies, and limit the sugary beverages they drink. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests avoiding juice for the first year and limiting the amount of juice after that to

• 4 oz. for children 1 to 3 years old
• 4 to 6 oz. for children 4 to 6 years old
• 8 oz. for children 7 to 18 years old2

The American Academy of Pediatrics also says children should not sip on juice throughout the day or go to bed with juice

VISIT THE DENTIST REGULARLY

Start your child off on the right foot by building a relationship with a dentist early on. In fact, it is recommended that your child see the dentist at some point between the time the child gets his or her first tooth and age 1 year. This will help you and your child establish a dental home, the place he or she will continue to go during childhood.3 Having a dental home is helpful. This allows the dentist to keep track of your child’s general and dental health. It also helps your child get used to the dental office and staff members, including the dentist. At these visits, the dentist may check for cavities and normal development and can show you how to take care of your child’s teeth and manage issues like diet and teething.

CONCLUSION

Your child’s dental care should start as soon as the first tooth comes in. Keep in touch with your child’s dentist for guidance. You also can turn to the American Dental Association for tips on dental health at MouthHealthy.org.

Prepared by
Anita M. Mark, senior scientific content specialist, ADA Science and Research Institute, Chicago, IL.

Disclosure
Ms. Mark did not report any disclosures.

Copyright ª 2023 American Dental Association. Unlike other portions of JADA, the print and online versions of this page may be reproduced as a handout for patients without reprint permission from ADA Publishing. Any other use, copying, or distribution of this material, whether in printed or electronic form, including the copying and posting of this material on a website, is prohibited without prior written consent of ADA Publishing.

“For the Patient” provides general information on dental treatments. It is designed to prompt discussion between dentist and patient about treatment options and does not substitute for the dentist’s professional assessment based on the individual patient’s needs and desires.

You can find more information for patients at ADAstore.org or at MouthHealthy.org.

1. Marshman Z, Ahern SM, McEachan RRC, Rogers HJ, Gray-Burrows KA, Day PF. Parents’ experiences of toothbrushing with children: a qualitative study. JDR Clin Trans Res. 2016;1(2):122-130.
2. Heyman MB, Abrams SA. Section on Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition; Committee on Nutrition. Fruit juice in infants, children, and adolescents: current recommendations. Pediatrics. 2017;139(6):e20170967.
3. American Dental Association. Current Policies, Adopted 1954-2021. American Dental Association; 2022.