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Growing Smiles: Caring for Kids’ Teeth

Before your baby can walk, talk, or even decide they  don’t like peas, they’re already growing something pretty important: their smile. Yep—those tiny gums and surprise teeth deserve a little love early on. Oral health might not sound like the most thrilling parenting topic (right up there with diaper disposal systems), but it plays a huge role in your child’s comfort, confidence, and overall health.

Our expert this month is Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Chris Goodell.  He has focused his practice on children since graduating from his residency program at Boston Children's Hospital in 2017. From gummy grins to first tooth fairy visits, Dr. Chris is here to make caring for your child’s mouth simple, stress-free, and maybe even a little fun.

Dr. Chris, let’s start at the beginning. When do I need to start thinking about my baby’s dental health?

Just as parents choose a pediatrician when their baby is born, it is a good idea to choose a pediatric dentist as well. Schedule an appointment for a cleaning and check up to help your baby get used to seeing a dentist. Early visits to a pediatric dentist are focused on education and prevention, so hopefully any areas of concern can be addressed before they become a problem. Prevention is the best medicine. 

When should they start seeing a dentist?

Pediatric dentists can see children as soon as the day they are born, if there is a concern. For routine care, we recommend seeing a pediatric dentist within 6 months of the first tooth erupting, or no later than age 1 year. Babies can get cavities, too, so it’s important to start brushing as soon as the first tooth comes in. 

Can I do anything to promote oral health before my baby has teeth?

First, it’s important for the primary caregiver to make sure that they don't have any unmet dental needs. This would ideally be addressed before your baby is even born. Caregiver(s) who have untreated decay or gum disease can have very high levels of harmful bacteria in their mouths. These bad bacteria can be passed to your baby by sharing cups or utensils, or kissing your baby. This can put your baby at higher risk of problems with their mouths as they get older.

Once your baby is born, you can use infant finger toothbrushes to "brush" the baby's gums. This will help your baby get used to you putting things in their mouth so brushing will hopefully be easier when the time comes. It is important to switch to a regular toothbrush as soon as the first tooth starts to erupt.

My baby has their first tooth! Now what?

Start brushing their teeth twice a day! Even if your baby has only one tooth, it is important to brush it. I don’t recommend training toothpastes. Use a toothbrush that is sized for babies and a fluoride toothpaste. Use only an amount the size of a grain of rice. Even though your baby will swallow the toothpaste, this small amount is and the fluoride toothpaste will help strengthen your baby's teeth.

Now that your baby has a tooth, that tooth can get a cavity. In addition to brushing, it is important to practice good dietary habits to help reduce the chance of decay. A big risk factor for cavities in babies is falling asleep with milk. Even though milk is healthy, it contains sugars that can cause cavities. Ideally after you brush your baby's teeth at night, your baby should have only water to drink. If the baby does have milk, it is good practice to brush again, or at least try to rinse or wipe the teeth to help clean off any milk. 

What are the biggest concerns you see in your patients?

Cavities! Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood. It is five times more common in kids than asthma. Cavities, when left untreated, can have a significant impact on your child's health and development. Untreated cavities can cause pain, infection, poor nutrition, trouble sleeping, difficulty focusing in school, and affect self-esteem and confidence. 

If you could tell parents to avoid certain things, what would they be?

Limit juice to no more than one serving of four ounces per day. Though diluting juice can reduce the amount of sugar they are consuming, it usually means it will take your child longer to drink it – meaning the sugar that is there is in contact with teeth for longer. Limit snacks between meals, and if your child is going to snack, choose snacks that do not have a high sugar content. Foods that stick to the teeth are the most likely to cause cavities, so be especially careful about giving things like fruit snacks or gummies. Do not let your child fall asleep with any drinks that contain sugar as the sugar will stay on their teeth all night while they sleep and will promote cavities forming. 


Top 3 things to remember.

  1. Bring your child to see a dentist early.
  2. Establish good oral hygiene practices in infancy.
  3. Cavities are largely preventable.


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