Yes! And you can also be the one to give your child life-long dental health. Campbell River’s new dental hygienist Brenda xx has the following simple parent-friendly tips:

Don’t lick the spoon! For many parents it’s second nature to taste their baby’s food or ‘clean’ their baby’s soother in their own mouth before giving it to their baby, but these practices can pass cavity causing bacteria from you to your baby. Make sure items that go into your baby’s mouth are untouched by other mouths!

Brush that first tooth two times a day! 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. Not only do you make sure your baby’s teeth stay healthy, you also set them on the right track for developing the best possible life-long dental care habits.

Use bottles and sippy cups with care. Once babies have teeth, going to bed with a bottle puts them at risk of tooth decay. Wean children from these sippy cups and bottles between 12-14 months of age.

Visit the dentist 6 months after your child’s first tooth appears. Is cost an issue? BC Healthy Kids Program 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: 1-866-866-0800 (press 4, then 2)

Choose fresh fruit instead of sticky raisins, juice or fruit roll-ups. Baby teeth have thin enamel even small amounts of sticky sweet dried fruit can lead to decay.

Remember a child’s baby teeth are important. Your baby needs them to learn to speak, chew and smile!