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Watching out for the health of your toddler’s teeth is a full-time job. The same oral hygiene routine recommended by our Mount Prospect Family Dentist for an adult applies to your toddler as well.

Maintaining a routine of proper brushing and flossing after meals and before bedtime will provide a foundation for regular oral hygiene routines for the whole family. However, even though there are similarities, oral health care for your toddler also has some important differences.

Protecting Baby’s Teeth

As baby teeth are developing, permanent adult teeth are already forming under the gumline. Providing care for your toddler at this stage will go a long way towards developing healthy adult teeth. Also, teaching good dental habits at an early age can lay an important foundation for your child’s future oral health.

As a toddler, your child should already be receiving routine preventive dental care. The Mount Prospect Family Dentist can assess your child’s dental development and discuss proper at-home oral health care routines.

What You Can Do to Help

But, as a parent, there are things you should do as well between dental visits, to protect your toddler’s teeth:

  • Enjoy healthy food choices. Choosing a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables to serve is good for the entire body, especially your toddler’s developing teeth.
  • As toddlers grow and begin to gain some independence, they will enjoy feeding themselves. Remember that frequent exposure to sugary or even healthy fruit drinks can lead to tooth decay. Offer water instead and encouraging brushing between snacks whenever possible.
  • Maintain a regular routine of brushing and flossing. Toddlers will enjoy the independence of brushing their own teeth at least once a day. If your child’s efforts are not perfect, that’s okay. Simply introducing the idea and maintaining a routine will send an important message to your child.
  • Prevent your child from eating fluoridated toothpaste to prevent damage to the developing permanent teeth. Look for training toothpaste for children who have not yet learned to spit after brushing.
Contact our Office for More Information

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s oral health care, please contact our dentist office for more information.