Healthy teeth and gums are essential for a healthy body. From their first baby teeth to their adult teeth, you can help your children enjoy a lifetime of good oral health with proper care at home, a balanced diet and regular dental visits.

Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth. Wipe your baby’s gums with a clean gauze pad after each feeding to remove plaque and residual food that can harm erupting teeth.

• When your child’s teeth begin to erupt, brush them gently with a child’s size toothbrush and water (toothpaste is used for children two and older).
• To prevent tooth decay, infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottle before going to bed.
• If you use a pacifier, use a clean one. Never give a baby a pacifier dipped it in sugar or honey.
• With your child’s first birthday, begin regular dental check-ups for “smile” insurance.

• Maintain a balanced diet for your child by selecting foods from the five main food groups—fruits, vegetables, meat, grains and dairy.
• Limit between-meal snacks. If your child needs a snack choose nutritious foods from the main food groups rather than cookies, candy and other sweets.
• Ensure that school food services and vending services offer nutritious selections.
• Encourage children and adolescents to drink water.

• Brushing twice a day and flossing are necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
• A pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for children two and older is all that is needed.
• Make sure your child spits out the toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
• For young children, select a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles.
• Children should be able to brush alone by age seven.
• Replace toothbrushes every three to four months.
• Use floss as soon as the child has two teeth that touch.
• Ask your dentist or hygienist to demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques.
• Supervise your child’s brushing and flossing until you are satisfied they are doing both properly.

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• Schedule the dental appointment for a time when your child feels rested and cooperative. Avoid nap and mealtimes if possible.
• Don’t let anyone tell your child scary stories about dental visits.
• Don’t let your child know if you feel any anxiety about going to the dentist.
• Don’t bribe your child to go to the appointment.
• Never use a dental visit as a punishment or threat.
• Do try to make your child’s dental visit an enjoyable outing.
• Set a good example by taking care of your oral hygiene and health.

A patient asked recently, "What's a space maintainer?" I told him this can be vital to your child's dental health.

If your child loses a baby tooth early through decay or injury, the child's other teeth could shift and begin to fill the vacant space. When your child's permanent teeth emerge, there's not enough room for them. The result is crooked or crowded teeth and difficulties with chewing or speaking.

To prevent that, your dentist inserts a space maintainer to hold the spot left by the lost tooth until the permanent tooth emerges. The space maintainer might be a band or a temporary crown attached to one side of the vacant space. Later, as the permanent tooth emerges, your dentist removes the device. And presto! Your child is ready for a lifetime of smiles.

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