Prevention for Early Childhood Caries

Good dietary habits

• No more than six regular meals a day should be allowed. After 2 years of age, only let your child eat three meals per day and take sufficient amount of food during each meal. One snack is allowed in between meals if your child feels hungry.
• Do not let toddlers sleep with a bottle in their mouth.
• Try to use a cup instead of a bottle for feeding when the toddler is 12 months old.

Appropriately clean the child’s mouth everyday

• Starting from the baby’s birth, parents should use gauze, cotton, or towel moistened with drinking water to clean the baby’s mouth.
• Wipe the front teeth when they are erupted.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush the teeth daily when the deciduous molars are erupted.
• If the child knows how to spit out water, you can let him brush with children’s fluoride toothpaste (a pea sized blob) every morning and before bed at night. Every night after the child brushes, parents should supplement his/her brushing.

Regular dental check-up annually

A child should have his/her first oral check-up six months after he/she has his/her first tooth or when he/she is one year old. After that, parents should bring their children for regular dental check-up at least once per year.

Reference information: www.bjdental.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.