Your child’s primary teeth will begin to fall out anywhere from age six and on, when the adult teeth start pushing their way in. However, just because your child’s baby teeth fall out doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be properly cared for.
Primary teeth are essential to the healthy development of adult teeth, which will be present in your child’s mouth for life! So how can you best take care of your child’s baby teeth?
Infancy: Wipe Out the Mouth to Clean
When your child is an infant, mouth cleanings are still important. Since teeth won’t come in until your baby is about six months old, brushing won’t be necessary until this time. However, you should simply wipe out your child’s mouth after feedings with a clean cloth. Once their baby teeth begin to come in, you can gently brush them. As soon as they have two teeth that touch together, you can begin flossing. Remember, your child should see the dentist as soon as their first teeth begin to come in!
Toddler: Begin Teaching Brushing Habits
As your baby grows into a toddler, you can begin to teach them oral care habits. It’s essential that you still supervise your child’s care of their teeth, as they likely won’t be able to master this practice yet. You can get them into the habit of brushing their teeth every morning and every night, helping them along the way. Your child should be familiar with the dentist and go every six months or so to ensure their teeth are healthy and that tooth decay isn’t present.
Child: Supervise Brushing and Healthy Habits
Once your toddler has become a child, they should be able to brush their teeth on their own. At around age six, they’ll begin losing their primary teeth and adult teeth will make an
appearance. You should still check in to ensure they are brushing and flossing properly, and the dentist visits should be routine by this point. It’s important to encourage healthy snacking with limited juices, soda, and other sugar products. This will help your child develop healthy habits for life!
Teen: Emphasize the Importance of Care
Typically, around age 12, kids have their full set of adult teeth in. This means your child should be pretty well established to continue caring for their teeth and have a routine in place. Regular dentist visits can help remove any plaque that’s built up, helping to keep your child cavity-free. It’s important to continue emphasizing care of their teeth, especially if they have braces. Your child’s adult teeth will now last them for life thanks to your help!
Caring for your child’s baby teeth is important even though they’ll eventually lose these little teeth. Not only can you help your child establish healthy habits, but you also help encourage a strong full set of adult teeth for your child, setting them up for a great smile for life. Your dentist is your partner to ensuring your child has great teeth, so don’t skip those visits!
