Can I give my child cavities?
Yes! Babies are not born with cavity-causing bacteria. But cavity-causing bacteria can be passed from mother to child by doing things like: sharing spoons when tasting baby’s food, or cleaning baby’s soother first in mom’s mouth and then giving it to baby.  Make sure items that go into your baby’s mouth are untouched by other mouths!

Can bottles in bed cause tooth decay? 
Yes! Once babies have teeth, going to bed with a bottle puts them at risk of tooth decay.

Do I need to brush when my baby has only ONE tooth? 
Yes! Once teeth appear, it’s important to brush two times each day with toothpaste that contains fluoride. You can also clean your baby’s teeth with a wet face cloth and a smear of toothpaste containing fluoride.

For More Info Go to “Baby Teeth are important for:”

When does my child need to first see a dentist? 
A child’s first visit to the dentist should occur 6 months after the first tooth appears, usually around the age of one (Canadian Dental Association). To find out about free dental coverage for children contact a public health nurse at 250-850-2110.

For More Info Go to “First Steps to Healthy Teeth!”

Baby teeth are important for:

• Baby’s mouth and face to develop properly.

• Baby to learn to chew food properly and have a nutritious diet.

• Baby to learn to speak.

• Saving space for permanent teeth that erupt between age 6 – 12 years.

First steps to healthy teeth!

• Develop good habits.  Clean baby’s mouth twice daily before teeth appear (wipe baby’s gumpads with a clean damp washcloth or gauze).

• Start brushing baby’s teeth at least twice a day as soon as they appear (usually around 6 months of age), with a smear of fluoride toothpaste especially before bedtime (a smear of toothpaste is about the size of a grain of rice).

• Feed your baby and toddler healthy foods; avoid sweets or sticky foods such as raisins and fruit roll ups that can cause tooth decay.

• Never put baby to bed with a bottle unless it contains only plain water.  Water will not harm teeth.

• Wean baby from bottle by 12 to 14 months of age.  Baby should be able to drink from a cup at this time.

• Choose fresh fruit instead of drinking juice.

• "Lift the lip” at least once a month to check for whitish lines or brown spots along the gum line of baby’s teeth.  If you see these contact your dental office.

• Do not let your baby drink from a sippy-cup or bottle all through the daytime.

• Drink water for thirst.

• Keep your mouth healthy with regular dental care to reduce the risk of passing harmful bacteria into your child.

• Breast milk also contains sugar.  If your child sleeps with you during the night and is free to nurse whenever she wants, especially if your baby is attached to the breast all night, rapid tooth decay may occur.

To learn more about infant dental care, check out:

B.C. Dental Association at www.bcdental.org
Canadian Dental Association
Infant Dental Care BC Health File

Is cost an issue? 

BC Healthy Kids Program 1-866-866-0800 (press 4 and then 2) helps low income families by covering some of the costs of dental care for their children. For faster service have your child’s BC CARE card number ready when you call.
  
Thank you to Dr. Andy Wong for his review of the content on these web pages.