Dental Checklist for Infants and Toddlers

It is recommended you print this page. Refer to it concerning your baby's dental care during their first 2 years.

Birth to 6 Months

Clean mouth with a wet gauze or wash cloth after feedings and at bedtime.
Ask your pediatrician or pediatric dentist about fluoride supplement.
• Regulate feeding habits.

6 to 12 Months

First tooth may appear. Do not panic if this has not happened "on schedule".
Begin to brush teeth after each feeding and at bedtime with small, soft-bristled brush or using a NON-fluoridated infant's tooth and gum cleaner. Swallowing fluoridated toothpaste at a young age can lead to fluorosis(discoloration) of your child's permanent teeth.
• If bottle feeding, introduce a cup/sippy cup.  Be conscientious of your child associating milk only with a bottle. 

12 to 24 Months

•   Most Primary teeth have erupted.
•   Must go to bed with brushed/clean teeth.
•   Continue using NON-fluoridated infants’ toothpaste for brushing.

24 Months Plus

• Start to use fluoridated toothpaste ONLY when child has learned to spit it out and is able to effectively rinse afterwards.
• Check to see if teeth are in contact and introduce flossing.
• If your child is an "independent" brusher, you must have your turn!  Follow up with a plain wet toothbrush to check brushing. Re-brush all surfaces and finish with gently sweeping the tongue.

Nursing and Bottle Feeding

 Following are a few suggestions:

• Avoid nursing your child to sleep, bottle or breast.
• Optimally, at-will nighttime breast-feeding and bottle feedings should be avoided after the first primary (baby) teeth begin to erupt.
• Children should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.
• Children should not fall asleep with a bottle or put into the crib with a bottle filled with anything other than water. 
• Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided. When juice is offered, it should be in a cup.

Pacifiers

You've probably noticed your baby derives much pleasure from sucking, an important and satisfying activity which is a normal part of their development. Babies begin sucking their thumbs and fingers before they are born.  They use their mouth for the obvious things like eating and communicating their needs, but also for expressing feelings, exploring their world, and for their own personal security. Sucking aids in strengthening and developing the oral muscles, which in turn help position the teeth in the proper position as they appear.

If you choose a pacifier be sure:

• It is designed for safety! It should be constructed in one piece of a flexible but firm non-toxic material. The nipple and mouth guard should not be separate. It should also have an easily held handle or grip.
• The mouth guard should contain ventilating holes, and the pacifier should be large enough to prevent it from being sucked into baby's mouth.
• NEVER tie the pacifier around baby's neck.
• It is always kept clean. Wash it before giving it to baby, every time. If it wears out, get a new one.
• Never sweeten it by putting honey or sugar on the nipple. This can cause baby bottle tooth decay , and cause serious damage to your child's teeth.

Most children give up the sucking habit at 4 or 5 years of age. If your child hasn't, they may need help with their oral habit. See your pediatric dentist!