Pediatric Dentist Checklist: Timeline for a Healthy Smile

• Starting at birth, brush gums twice daily with a damp soft cloth or a soft-bristle infant toothbrush. When your baby starts teething, relieve discomfort with a cold (refrigerated, not frozen) teething ring.
  
• When the first tooth appears or when baby turns one, make your first pediatric dentist appointment. Continue with regular checkups every six months.
• Begin brushing in earnest; use a smear of non-fluoride toothpaste for babies, then a pea-size amount for toddlers. Teach children to spit out the toothpaste—not swallow it. Begin fluoride paste at age two.
• Around age two, say bye-bye, binky to avoid bite problems. Feed your child a healthy, balanced diet with minimal sugars and starches. Think beyond the candy bowl, as salty foods like pretzels, chips, and peanut butter often contain sugar and starch.
• Around age five, a child can begin brushing her own teeth with supervision. Although she will unlikely have the dexterity to brush effectively until around age nine, she can brush on her own during the day, then have a parent take a turn before bedtime.