Teaching your child good oral hygiene habits early can lead to a lifelong healthy smile. The baby teeth begin coming through the gums around 6 months and this sets the stage for future smiles by keeping space in the jaw for adult teeth.

Your child’s baby teeth however are at risk for decay as soon as they first appear—which is typically around age 6 months.

The good news is that tooth decay is preventable! Most children have a full set of 20 baby teeth by the time they are 2 years-old. As your child grows, their jaws also grow, making room for their permanent teeth

Baby teeth matter

When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other adult teeth to find room when they come in. This can make teeth crooked or crowded. That’s why starting infants off with good oral care can help protect their teeth for decades to come.

Cleaning Your Child’s Teeth
Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth.

For children younger than 3 years, 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, morning and night. Supervise children’s brushing to ensure that they use the appropriate amount of toothpaste.

For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste andbrush their teeth thoroughly twice per day morning and night. Supervise children’s brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.

Until you are comfortable that your child can brush ontheirr 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.