You may be surprised to learn that proper dental care, even before your baby's teeth come in, is important. After each feeding, gently wipe his or hers gums with a damp cloth or piece of gauze to help remove plaque.

During your baby's first visit, the dentist can evaluate whether the facial bone and teeth are developing normally and look for signs of hidden decay.

Your dentist will provide tips on taking care of your baby's emerging teeth. As soon as his or her teeth come in, you can begin flossing and brushing. When brushing, use a soft bristle brush and just a wee dab of fluoride toothpaste.

Click here to read our feature article on Tooth Decay in Children

Things to avoid

»	Too much sugar in diet
»	Never put a baby to bed with a bottle that contains milk or sweet liquids

These things can cause sugars to pool in your baby's mouth and cause tooth decay. If you must give a bottle at bedtime, fill it with water (preferably distilled).

Thumb Sucking and Pacifiers

This is a normal habit and is generally harmless as long as it is discontinued before the permanent teeth come in.

Most children outgrow thumb sucking between the ages of four (4) and six (6). If not, they should be encouraged to stop to avoid damaging the alignment of their growing teeth and facial bones.

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Setting the Stage for Excellent Dental Care

Start Good Habits Young

Encourage good dental hygiene when your kids are young. At about age two, most children can be shown the basic brushing techniques. Always supervise the brushing and have your child use only a pea-sized dab of toothpaste. Discourage any swallowing of toothpaste.

Some children may resist brushing; if so, we suggest:

»	Brushing together - if your child sees you doing it, he or she will try to copy
»	Make-up a song and incorporate it into teaching more advanced brushing and flossing techniques as new teeth arrive

»	Provide fruit and veggie snacks as an alternative to sweets
»	It's a healthy idea to change your child's toothbrush 3 to 4 times per year
»	Protective plastic coatings on permanent molars can dramatically reduce the number of cavities