Good oral hygiene starts when your little one first gets their teeth. I am astonished everytime I hear "it's only their baby teeth." By age 3, most children have their 20 primary teeth. Now these teeth are important for a number of reasons. They help children to chew, talk, maintain space for the permanent teeth, not to mention that beautiful smile. Baby teeth do serve a purpose, and an early start to dental care will help them through out their lifetime.

Here is a short list of steps that can help to create good oral hygiene habits for your kiddo.

1. If your child is bottle feeding, it is recommended that they be weaned from the bottle between the ages of 12 to 15 months. You can begin to do this replacing the bottle with a sippy cup for less important feedings, like maybe at lunch time. You know your baby better than anyone, including the pediatrician and dentist, so take this recommendation with a grain of salt.

2. Create a daily routine for brushing your child's teeth. Add it into their morning and bedtime routines.

3. You can begin to use a pea-sized amount of fluorinated toothpaste when you child is old enough to understand that they need to spit it out. Assist them until they are old enough to do it on their own. And make it something that is fun to do. Make a game out of it. If this is fun for them to do, then that's just one less battle to deal with:)

4. Ask you dentist, or pediatrician, if you are living in a fluorinated area or not. If you are in a non-fluorinated area then you can ask about fluoride supplements.

5. Ask about fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is a concentrated fluoride in a fast-drying solution of natural varnishes that is painted lightly on the teeth and hardens almost immediately. The fluoride is then released slowly to help provide long term protection against dental decay.

6. Provide a balanced diet that is low in sugar-rich foods.

7. Use the appropriate car seat for their size and age. This will not only help to keep them safe, but will help to protect their face and teeth.

8. Prepare your child for their dental appointments in a calm, positive way. Again, make this a fun experience for them. You might even want to schedule your first appointment as a sort of introduction. Check and see if your dentist is willing to do this. If they are not you might want to find another dentist.
Introducing children early to the positive side of dental care is as important as any other aspect of their overall care. This is not only beneficial for them, but might save you a lot of money in the long run:)

These are only suggestions and should not be taken as medical advice. Consult your doctor, pediatrician, or dentist with any questions or concerns.

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About the author :: Rebecca Olsen is a stay at home mom that recently became a work at home mom with MomsExpo. She is married to Angelo, and the mom of Jason.  She currently administrates and runs the MomsExpo Message Boards, and is the website administrator to DirectSales.ws and WAHMNetwork.com.  She has just recently become a freelance writer for MomsExpo as well!