In the Know for You to Know

Children grow so fast. Taking care of a toddler is so different from taking care of an infant.

There are so many new things to know and do. How we take care of their teeth also changes.

Toddler’s teeth are so important. That’s because the way we take care of their teeth now affects how they will take care of their own teeth in the future.

So what is there to know about your toddler’s amazing teeth? We’re glad you asked.

20 Teeth Make A Complete Set

Up until this time your child’s teeth have been like an iceberg with parts peaking through the gums while the rest is still growing underneath.

By the time your toddler is 3 years old teething is over and they will have all of their 20 baby teeth.

Brushing Starts And Ends Your Day

Make a game out of brushing your child’s teeth 2 Minutes 2X’s A Day. Brush in the morning after breakfast and at night right before their bedtime.

There are so many yummy flavors of toothpaste to entice your child. All you need is a small (dry) rice grain size amount of paste on their brush.

When To Start Flossing

It’s best to begin flossing their teeth once they have two teeth touching.

Flossing is recommended with the nightly brushing routine. If your child lets you floss more often then definitely make that part of your habit.

Floss Before You Brush

Flossing first allows you to remove everything that is between their teeth (and there is always something there) so you can brush everything away.

Can’t Spit Out?

Your child can’t spit out? No worries, have a moistened soft wash cloth handy to wipe their mouth and teeth, and a dry one to wipe their lips and chin.

A Handy Tip

The last thing that touches their teeth at night is their toothbrush.

Keep An Eye On Snacking And Juice

It’s important to avoid all day snacking.

Toddlers need their snacks. They are an opportunity to provide nutrients because toddlers actually need more nutrients than they can get at meal time.

Juice By Any Name Is Still Juice

Juice is not the way for your child to meet their daily fruit and vegetable needs. Not even 100% juice. Not even organic juice. Juice, soda, and sports drinks are sugar sweetened beverages with no real nutritional value and put children on the fast track to harming their teeth.

Water And Milk Are The Winners

Drinking water and plain low fat milk are the healthiest choices. Water is the best choice in-between meals and for hydration.

Tooth Enamel Is Strong But…

The hard outer shell of teeth is enamel. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but it can also be weakened.

Keeping Enamel Strong

2 of the best ways to keep enamel strong and help strengthen weakened enamel is to drink fluoridated tap water and brush with fluoride toothpaste.

Bottled Water Or Filtered Water

Bottled water often contains little to no fluoride. If you use a carbon or charcoal filter in a pitcher, the filter leaves most of the fluoride in the water.

Not Sure About Fluoride In Your Water?

Call your town hall, county hall, the company who bills you for your water, or your well servicer. Ask them for a water report and specifically ask about fluoride.

Play It Safe

Toddlers love to explore. Whether they toddle, walk, run, climb, or jump the possibility always exists that teeth can get hurt.

Falls from high chairs, strollers and shopping carts, as well as automobile accidents, are frequent causes of tooth and/or mouth injuries.

What Happens To Teeth?

The teeth most commonly hurt are the lower and upper front teeth. These teeth can be moved around or broken in all different ways. There’s also the possibility that the gums, tongue, cheeks or lips can be bruised or cut.

To help reduce the risk of injuries, make sure your child is secure in their car seat and wears a helmet when riding their bicycle.

If anything like this ever happens, contact your pediatric dentist or go to the closest emergency room immediately.

Rewards And Praise

Just not candy.

What To Remember

Your toddler means everything to you and as a parent you want the very best for them. With these tips as your guide you are laying the foundation for a life time of beautiful smiles and good dental health.

How do you take care of your toddler’s teeth? What are your burning questions?, biggest challenges?, best strategies? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Email us at kidstoothhotline@proton.me and Like Us on Facebook

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!