Pediatric Home Oral Care

Birth to 11 Months

• Parents should practice good oral hygiene and receive routine dental care to avoid bacterial transmission to their newborn.
• Minimize exposure to foods that can lead to early childhood caries.
• Hold the infant while feeding; never prop a bottle.
• Do not allow the infant to fall asleep with a bottle that contains milk, formula, juice, or other sweetened liquid.
• Clean gums after every meal with a soft cloth or gauze.
• Use a toothbrush twice daily as soon as the teeth begin to erupt.

1 to 4 Years

• Brush the child’s teeth twice daily as soon as they erupt.
• At an appropriate age, give children more freedom to do it on their own as they begin to do a more thorough job. Few children can do an adequate job of cleaning their mouths by themselves before age 5, so proceed with caution.
• For children younger than age 2, brush the teeth with plain water twice daily, unless advised by Drs. Camp or Heubner to use fluoride toothpaste.
• For children ages 2 years and older, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste twice daily.
• Ensure the child drinks fluoridated water of takes prescribed fluoride supplements.

5 to 10 Years

• Help with and supervise the brushing of a child’s teeth at least twice daily and with flossing if recommended by Drs. Camp or Heubner.
• Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
• Ensure the child drinks fluoridated water or takes prescribed fluoride supplements.
• Make sure nutritious foods are available to children, while continuing to emphasize healthful eating patterns and moderation of snacks established in infancy and early childhood. This reinforces the role of oral health within the greater context of overall health.

11 to 21 Years

• Continue vigilant oral hygiene as taught in early childhood.
• If you have a high risk of developing tooth decay, Drs. Camp or Heubner may consider a dietary analysis, frequent fluoride varnish/gel application, antimicrobial regimens, or dental sealants.
• Be aware that adolescents’ risk of caries can be increased by susceptible tooth enamel as a result of immature enamel in newly-erupted permanent teeth; indifference to oral hygiene; frequent and unregulated exposure to high quantities of natural and refined sugars; eating disorders, such as bulimia; use of certain drugs, such as methamphetamine; and frequent consumption of acidic drinks that can erode enamel.