Good oral and dental hygiene practices should begin when your child is a baby. You can introduce a toothbrush when your child is around age one, but be gentle and careful. Don't use fluoride toothpaste until after the first visit to the dentist, which is around age three. Once the plaque breaks down the enamel, it begins to break down the tooth. To help your child prevent cavities, teach and encourage good dental hygiene.
Sugar is food for the plaque.
At least that's what many children think about the idea. Of course, they'll thank you later. Luckily, braces have come a long way in the past 20 years. Newer braces are less noticeable and are made of better material. This means they may not have to be worn for as long as they used to be.