Good dental care starts as soon as your baby gets his/her first tooth. Unfortunately, many kids still develop cavities and tooth decay. That’s why it is important to set up good dental habits from the beginning.

When your baby gets its first tooth, it is important to start brushing with a toothbrush and fluoride containing toothpaste. You can use a very small amount (size of a grain of rice) to start with. After age 3, you can increase the amount of toothpaste (size of a pea) and try to teach your child to spit after brushing. Attempt to brush all teeth in the mouth twice daily and assist your child with brushing until age 8.
In order to avoid cavities, it is important to not only brush but to also avoid foods that predispose the teeth to decay. Try to avoid sugary foods, drinks and sticky foods like caramel and raisins.

It helps to drink lots of water with meals and snacks. We recommend drinking filtered tap water in New York as a source of fluoride.
During check ups, we will check your child’s teeth to make sure they look healthy. The AAP recommends finding a “dental home” at age 1. It is important to follow up with your child’s dentist as scheduled to maintain good dental health and to prevent dental problems.