Oral and dental health in children should be approached with needs that change with age. In this article we have prepared a check-up and care schedule by age for parents.
Ages 0–1
- Before the first tooth appears, wipe the gums with a clean, damp cloth.
- When the first tooth comes through, start brushing with a soft brush.
- Make the first dental visit after the first tooth erupts, and by around the first birthday at the latest.
Ages 1–3
- Brush twice a day with a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste.
- Stop the habit of putting the child to sleep with a bottle.
- Encourage drinking water from a cup.
- A check-up every six months is recommended.
Ages 3–6
- Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and finish the brushing yourself as a parent.
- Fluoride varnish can be applied on the dentist's advice.
- It is recommended to stop thumb sucking and dummy use during this period.
Ages 6–12
- When the first permanent molars come through, fissure sealants can be considered.
- A first orthodontic check-up is recommended at around age 7. For details, see our early orthodontic treatment page.
- Children who play sport should use a mouthguard.
- Flossing should be taught.
Age 12 and over
- As the permanent teeth finish coming through, crowding and bite problems can be assessed more clearly.
- Gum inflammation can become more common during puberty; for details, see our article on gum problems in adolescence.
- Attention should be paid to sugary and acidic drinks.
What to do after a dental injury
If a permanent tooth has been knocked out completely, hold it by the crown, not the root; if it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or saline, keep it in milk or between the child's cheek and teeth (if there is no risk of swallowing) and go to a dentist immediately. Baby teeth are not put back in place, but a check-up after the injury is needed.
Preventing fear of the dentist
- Talk about dental visits in a positive way.
- Try not to pass your own anxieties on to your child.
- Making the first visits without a complaint, simply to get acquainted, makes it easier for the child to adapt.
