Use only a pea-size amount of toothpaste for children aged 6 and under, who are most susceptible to enamel defects caused by swallowing toothpaste that contains fluoride. Children under 2 should not use fluoridated toothpaste. Use positive terms for dental visits and dental care. Wean your child from both the breast and bottle between 12 and 18 months of age. Set a good example and practice good oral hygiene yourself.
Parents can spread decay-causing bacteria to their children in their saliva.
Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk or other liquid that contains sugar. Don't dip a pacifier in anything sweet. Limit your child's intake of excessively sticky candy, fruit or other food that sticks to the teeth. Food that stays in the mouth or on the teeth for a long time gives bacteria more time to be destructive. We worry with our babies when they are teething, celebrate when those first pearly whites appear and then introduce our kids to the tooth fairy.