{"id":269,"date":"2021-05-18T16:16:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T16:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.castlerocksmiles.com\/blog\/?p=269"},"modified":"2021-06-10T16:20:31","modified_gmt":"2021-06-10T16:20:31","slug":"when-should-you-start-cleaning-your-childs-teeth-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.castlerocksmiles.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/18\/when-should-you-start-cleaning-your-childs-teeth-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"When Should You Start Cleaning Your Child\u2019s Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Like everything else in parenting, learning how and when to care for your child\u2019s smile doesn\u2019t come with a guidebook! Among all the other important milestones your little one is reaching, it\u2019s important to make sure that their oral health is off to a great start too. But how exactly are you supposed to do that? Your Castle Rock pediatric dentist is here to share the basics of caring for your little ones\u2019 precious smile. Read on as we cover gum care, brushing and flossing, and other important parts of caring for your child\u2019s dental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Caring For the Gums Before Baby Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Caring for your little one\u2019s oral health starts long before their first baby tooth comes in. In fact, you won\u2019t even be using a toothbrush or toothpaste right away! Instead, you\u2019ll be focusing on keeping their gums clean. To do this, you should use a soft, moistened washcloth or clean piece of gauze and wipe down your baby\u2019s gums at least twice a day. It\u2019s especially important to clean their gums after feedings and before bedtime. This will clear away plaque and bacteria that naturally builds up on the gums throughout the day and night, which will keep the baby teeth healthy and strong as they come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to Start Brushing & Flossing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Baby teeth are vulnerable to cavities as soon as they erupt, so you can graduate to using a toothbrush as soon as you see that first little pearly white. You can also begin to use children\u2019s fluoridated toothpaste when their first tooth comes in, but be sure to only use a smear as big as a grain of rice. They can start using a pea-sized drop when they turn three. You should continue to brush their teeth until you\u2019re confident that they can do it on their own, and then you can supervise them as they brush to make sure they continue to use the right amount of toothpaste and remember to spit it out after brushing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For flossing, it\u2019s important to get your child in the habit early in life. You can start flossing your child\u2019s teeth when their teeth start to fit closely together, which can happen any time between the ages of two and six. It may take more time for your child to learn how to floss on their own, since it requires more dexterous movement. Talk to your pediatric dentist about using ADA-approved flossing tools like floss picks that can help make flossing easier and more effective for your little one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What About Fluoride & Mouthwash?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A few other important things to keep in mind as you begin to clean your child\u2019s smile:<\/p>\n\n\n\n