Good oral health in children translates to healthy adult teeth. Here’s how to help care for your child’s pearly whites:
- Take your child to a pediatric dentist by the child’s first birthday or when the first teeth arrive, whichever comes first.
- Begin helping your child floss by the time their last two molars come together, which usually happens when children are 21/2 to 3 years of age.
- Don’t let children brush their own teeth until around the ages of 7 to 9 — or until they’re able to tie their shoes or cut their meat on their plates.
- Cut down on sugary snacks between meals.
- Curb thumb-sucking by approximately age 5 to prevent developmental abnormalities.
- Don’t allow young children to carry around sippy cups containing anything but water.