Forty percent of all North Carolina children have tooth decay by the time they enter kindergarten, half of it untreated.
Remind the parents in your program to baby their children’s baby teeth.
- Brushing baby’s teeth: When the first teeth come in, usually between 6 and 10 months, brush with a small, soft-bristle baby toothbrush with a tiny sideways smear of fluoride toothpaste to make teeth strong and fight tooth decay.
- Teething: Avoid giving teething babies teething biscuits–they contain sugar which can lead to tooth decay. Avoid numbing gel too because it can numb the baby’s throat and cause choking. Instead, give the baby a cold water teething ring or damp, cold washcloth to suck on.
For more information and tips about the importance of baby teeth, see this short video, “Baby Those Baby Teeth.”
Your experience matters! How much fluoride toothpaste do you recommend parents use for their 1-year-olds? Click here to give your opinion on kids’ dental health.
Got a question about kids’ and teeth? Wondering how to connect better with the parents in your program? Click on Ask the Expert. Each month, our team of experts answers one of your questions, both here on the website and in the weekly email.
