Cavities can be prevented by taking care of your infant’s teeth. Your baby is not healthy unless their mouth is healthy.

AT HOME

Clean Teeth Twice Daily

•   Start early! Beginning at birth, wipe your child’s gums with a washcloth or
    piece of gauze after feeding.
•   Brush your baby’s teeth with a soft toothbrush twice a day, as soon as you
    see the first tooth (usually around 6 months).
     – Use a rice-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
     – Try placing your baby’s head in your lap to make it easier to brush their

         teeth.

Choose Healthy Food and Drinks

•   If you give your baby a bottle at bedtime or naps, fill it with water. Juice,
    formula, milk and breast milk can cause decay if left in your baby’s mouth
    while the child is sleeping.
•   When your child is ready, provide healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and
    vegetables.

•   Avoid juice, pop, candy and carbohydrate snacks such as crackers, pretzels.
    All of these can cause cavities.
•   Limit how often your child has juice, sweet drinks and snacks. Constant
    snacking on sticky foods or sipping sweet liquids throughout the day can
    cause tooth decay.
•   Offer water instead of juice or pop.

Lift the Lip and Look

•   Babies change quickly. Every month lift your baby's lip and look for changes
    on your baby's teeth.
•   Tooth decay often starts on the front or back of the front teeth and along the
    gums.
•   If you notice white or brown spots on the teeth or anything unusual, contact
    your baby's dentist or physician.

DURING CHECK-UPS

First screen by first birthday by a dentist or physician

•   Have your baby’s mouth checked by age one. Take your baby in sooner if
    you notice a problem.
•   During the checkup your dentist or physician should:
     – Look at your baby’s teeth for signs of early tooth decay.
     – Talk about daily tooth care including brushing.
     – Discuss your baby’s diet and eating habits.
•   You should ask whether your child needs:
     – Fluoride varnish: it can be easily applied on your child’s teeth and can
        prevent and reverse early dental decay.
     – Fluoride drops or tablets — if your water does not contain fluoride.

Take care of your oral health

•   If your mouth is healthy, your baby is more likely to have a healthy mouth too.
•   The germs that cause cavities can be passed to children.
•   Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss and have regular check-ups.