Best Practices for Dental Hygiene

The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes. Download a detailed instruction sheet on brushing, or watch an instructional video here. Replace your toothbrush every three-to-four months; floss once a day; eat a balanced diet; avoid a diet high in sugar; and last but not least, schedule regular dental checkups!

If you have a baby, the ADA recommends:

Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth after feedings. Remember: As soon as teeth appear, decay can occur.

When your baby’s teeth begin to come in, brush them gently with a child-size toothbrush and water. A baby’s front four teeth usually push through the gums at about 6 months of age, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months.

If you have small children, the ADA recommends:

Brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Be sure they spit out the toothpaste. (Ask your child’s dentist or physician if you are considering using fluoride toothpaste before age 2.) Until you’re comfortable that your child can brush on his or her own, continue to brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a child-size toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. When your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin flossing their teeth daily.

For more information, visit: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids