#ncdhm

Here at Colgate, we believe in showcasing your smile and showing it to the world to spread positivity! Getting fresh, unfiltered air is essential to mental health. You shouldn't have to breathe your own carbon dioxide! Your smile will light up the world. It'll be as big as your mom's, we brushed her teeth last night. She said it tickled.

It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month!

Here are some tips for keeping your child’s mouth healthy:

Have them brush their teeth twice daily

As soon as the first tooth comes in, start brushing twice a day with a soft child sized toothbrush and water. For children 2 years of age and older, brush with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Avoid giving them sugary drinks and snacks

Offer healthy snacks that are low in sugar such as cheese, yogurt or fruit. Give your child milk or water to drink.

Don’t share utensils or bites of food

To avoid spreading germs, don’t put a spoon or a piece of food from your mouth into your child’s mouth. Use water, not your mouth, to clean off a pacifier.

Visit the dentist regularly

Children should see a dentist by their first birthday and visit a dentist every six months for dental health education prevention of cavities and treatment of oral health problems.

More resources

American Dental Association for Kids

New York State Oral Health for Infants and Children

National Children’s Dental Month Oral Hygiene Tips

Improving your child’s health starts with mindful daily habits, including keeping up with their regular oral hygiene routine. 

Tooth decay, bloody gums and other diseases are common problems caused by unhealthy diets and bad oral hygiene. 

This National Children’s Dental Month, keep your child’s pearly whites healthy with these oral hygiene tips!

Daily Oral Hygiene Habits

Remember to include daily oral hygiene habits into your little one’s routine.  

Start brushing your child’s teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste as soon as their first tooth comes in.

Use a child-sized toothbrush and water when brushing.

For children under the age of 3, use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, usually a smear size or as small as a grain of rice.

For children ages 3-6, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing.

If your child does not have teeth, wipe the gums with a washcloth or moist gauze pad after eating and before they go to sleep.

Make sure to supervise your child until they are able to brush well on their own.

Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks

Watch out for foods and drinks high on sugar and other ingredients that could cause tooth decay.

Give your child healthy snacks like cheese, yogurt or fruit.

Make sure to limit the number of sugary snacks to three throughout the day.

Avoid drinks such as soda, juice with added sugar or flavored milk.

Give your child 100 percent fruit juice with no added sugar.

Avoid Bottles and Sippy Cups

Limit the use of bottles and sippy cups for your child throughout the day.  

Don’t let your child sleep with a bottle or sippy cup. Tooth decay is common when these items are left for too long in a child’s mouth.

Avoid using bottles as pacifiers.

Start giving your child cups instead of sippy cups by age 1.

Give your child tap water since fluoride in New York City’s tap water helps prevent tooth decay.

Other Tips  

Your little ones need to visit the dentist, too!

Take your child to a dentist as soon as their first teeth come in or by the age of 1.

Follow up with regular visits depending on your child’s needs.

Talk to your child’s dentist about fluoride varnish or dental sealants to help protect teeth from cavities and other tooth decay.

Other Resources

Our children’s oral health page for more information and tips to keep your child’s teeth healthy.

The oral health page offers resources and tips for adults.

Our low-cost dental provider list can help you find the right dentist for your child.

The American Dental Association (ADA) page has fun activities on National Children’s Dental Month.

It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month! 

Here are some tips for keeping your child’s mouth healthy:

Have them brush their teeth twice daily

As soon as the first tooth comes in, start brushing twice a day with a soft child sized toothbrush and water. For children two years of age and older, brush with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Avoid giving them sugary drinks and snacks

Offer healthy snacks that are low in sugar such as cheese, yogurt or fruit. Give your child milk or water to drink.

Don’t share utensils or bites of food

To avoid spreading germs, don’t put a spoon or a piece of food from your mouth into your child’s mouth. Use water, not your mouth, to clean off a pacifier.

Visit the dentist regularly

Children should see a dentist by their first birthday and visit a dentist every six months for dental health education prevention of cavities, and treatment of oral health problems.

More resources

American Dental Association for Kids

New York State Oral Health for Infants and Children