Dental Health Tips for Parents of Toddlers

Good dental health begins at the start of life, and how you handle your toddler’s dental care can teach them to stick to a routine for decades. Give your child a great start with these toddler dental care tips from your favorite dentist in Ponte Vedra.

Clean the Gums Before the Teeth Arrive

Please don’t wait until your toddler has their first few teeth to focus on oral health care. Your baby needs gum cleaning and stimulation with a damp, soft cloth to prepare the tissue for the eruption of the first teeth. Even when you decide to wait for the first tooth to erupt before planning a pediatric dentistry checkup, you can’t forget to check the gums for signs of irritation or infection and see a dentist early if needed.

Start Brushing Early

You can avoid the need for childhood tooth extraction and cavity filling simply by starting to brush your toddler’s teeth as soon as they emerge. While your child is under three, use a soft baby toothbrush with just a rice-grain-sized smear of toothpaste. Keep up with the daily habit even if they’re fussy about it or try to avoid brushing.

Once your toddler reaches three years old, move to a larger soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Using a less minty or flavored toothpaste that’s still approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) can encourage less fussing during the twice-daily brushing.

Plan the First Dentist’s Visit

You should bring your toddler to see a pediatric dentist for the first time within six months of their first tooth erupting from the gums. If your child turns 1 year old and has no teeth yet, they still need to visit the dentist to see what’s causing the delay.

Starting early with the routine of seeing a dentist twice a year prepares your child to feel like it’s a normal part of life that’s not frightening. It also ensures your child visits the dentist before a problem with their teeth or gums, helping them create positive memories and associations with dentistry. Many parents who put off early visits until there’s a problem unnecessarily set their toddler up for developing dental anxiety or phobias.

Work on Flossing

Flossing is a dental health task that is tricky to teach a toddler. Ask your Ponte Vedra dentist about flossing tools and picks that help simplify the task when dealing with a child who keeps wiggling and trying to get free. The dentist can help you find the right tools and demonstrate techniques that make flossing more comfortable and quicker for you and your toddler.

Avoid Overuse of Bottles

What your child drinks is perhaps the most significant risk to their teeth during the toddler years. Bottles full of milk or juice can damage teeth, especially when given to distract or pacify a child. Even bottles full of water aren’t a replacement for a pacifier because bottle sucking can affect the gums and teeth much more than a properly designed pacifier.

Avoid sending your toddler to bed with a bottle or allowing them to sleep while breastfeeding. If they’re not swallowing the milk and it lingers in their mouth, it can trigger tooth decay in as little as 2 hours. Switch to a cup by 12 months and try to put the bottle away when you can to reduce pressure that can shift tooth alignment. Avoid night and on-demand milk or formula feedings when the first teeth arrive. When toddlers turn one, they should only receive plain water between meals. Save juice and milk for meal time when their saliva can help wash away the residues that trigger tooth decay.

If you’re unsure whether your toddler is on track for good oral health, schedule a visit to us here at Ponte Vedra Pediatric Dentistry today. We can help you and your toddler learn fun tooth care routines with Dr. Lindsay Maples and the rest of the team. Don’t delay in getting started on a long life of good dental health for your child.