Healthy Smiles Checklist

By teaching your child how to look after their teeth and by setting a good example with your own oral health, you can help your child develop and maintain a healthy attitude to oral health that will serve a lifetime.

• Encourage healthy food choices and limit sugary snacks
• Make sure your child drinks plenty of water and avoids sweetened or fizzy acidic drinks.
• Avoiding sugary snacks and fizzy acidic drinks will help prevent dental decay and dental erosion
• Bring infant child to dentist before 1st birthday and ask about when to introduce fluoride toothpaste.
• Supervise your child brushing at least twice a day with a pea size amount of adult fluoride toothpaste after 2nd birthday.
• Choose a toothbrush with a small head, soft nylon bristles and show your child how to use it.
• Brush teeth and gums for at least two minutes to remove plaque effectively, spit don’t rinse.
• Wait at least 1 hour before brushing after eating meals or snacks to allow teeth to re-harden.
• Replace your childʼs toothbrush every two to three months or more often as needed.
• Have your childʼs teeth checked by the dentist once a year, or as often as the dentist recommends, and remember to find out about school dental screenings for your child.