Basic Oral Hygiene Tips for Children

Dr. Anne Georgulas is a physician and owner of a Coppell, Texas, pediatric office. Over the course of a medical career spanning nearly three decades, Dr. Anne Georgulas has gained insight into various pediatric topics, including matters of oral hygiene.

Oral hygiene is an important component of overall health for children and adolescents. That said, young children are not always concerned with proper oral care. With this in mind, there are several steps families should take to set a child up for long-term dental success.

To start, children should see a pediatric dentist by 12 months of age, though this milestone can be delayed if the child does not have teeth at one year old. As soon as teeth emerge, they must be cared for. Families should brush a child’s teeth with a soft toothbrush. If any of the teeth touches, families can also begin flossing.

Families should discuss specific toothbrushes and kinds of toothpaste with a dentist or pediatrician. Generally speaking, an infant don’t require toothpaste, but a grain of rice amount of toothpaste. can be used. Once a child will spit out toothpaste, at about 3 years of age, a pea sized amount of toothpaste can be used. Oversight of a child’s oral healthcare routine should continue until the child can reliably and consistently brush all three sides of every tooth, typically around eight years old.