First Checkup

• Most dentists recommend that children receive their first dental checkup before they turn a year old or when they develop their first tooth.
  
  

Common Issues

• Common pediatric dental issues include teething pain, tooth decay caused by nursing on bottles containing sugary liquids and crooked teeth due to thumb sucking.
  
  

At Home Care

• Care of a child's gums and teeth should begin shortly after birth. Gently wipe a baby's gums with a soft washcloth and non-fluoridated bottled water to remove debris caused by nursing. Once a child begins developing teeth, supervised tooth brushing with a soft-bristled brush can begin. Most children can brush their own teeth by the age of eight.
  
  

Toothpaste

• When brushing a child's teeth, it is important to use the appropriate amount of toothpaste to avoid fluoride poisoning. Most dentists recommend using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for children two or older. Without proper supervision or advice from a dentist, fluoridated toothpaste can be dangerous to children under two years of age.
  
  

Fluoride

• Fluoride fights bacteria that causes tooth decay and can repair damage caused by acid erosion. Most communities have water systems that contain fluoride; however, the fluoride levels may not be high enough to fight tooth decay. Dentists can provide fluoridated drops or tablets to children over six months of age to supplement deficient fluoride levels.