Regular dental care for children should begin by 1 year of age. The following dental checklist for infants and toddlers is from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Birth to 6 months old

• Clean your baby’s mouth with water and a cloth or gauze, or use a soft infant toothbrush after feedings and at bedtime.
• Consult your child’s healthcare provider about the use of fluoride supplements if you live in an area without fluoridated water.
• Also ask about fluoride varnish that can be applied to the teeth when they erupt.

6 to 12 months old

• During this time, the first tooth should appear. Consult a dentist for an exam as soon as the first tooth comes in, but no later than your child’s first birthday.
• Brush teeth after each feeding and at bedtime with a small, soft-bristled brush. Use a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice.

1 to 3 years old

• Follow the schedule of dental exams and cleanings as recommended by your child’s dentist. Generally, dental exams and cleanings are recommended every 6 months for children.
• At about age 3, as your child learns to rinse and spit, brushing with a pea-sized portion of fluoridated toothpaste is best.

Facts about baby teeth

Correct care of a child’s baby teeth (also known as primary teeth) is very important. These teeth hold space for the future permanent teeth in adulthood.

• If a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space for the permanent teeth can be lost and may need to be regained through orthodontic treatment.
• Infected baby teeth can cause the permanent teeth to develop incorrectly, resulting in stains, pits, and weaker teeth.
• Baby teeth are important in speech development.
• Baby teeth aid in chewing food correctly, promoting healthy nutrition.

Most children begin losing their baby teeth around age 5 or 6. Children often lose their front teeth first. They continue to lose baby teeth until age 12 or 13 when all of the permanent teeth finally come through, except for the third molars (wisdom teeth). These molars begin to appear around age 17 to 21.