The document provides guidance on introducing oral care to children from infancy through childhood. It recommends wiping a baby's mouth with a washcloth before teeth emerge. Once teeth arrive, parents should introduce toothbrushing using a soft brush. The document advises taking infants to their first dentist visit by age one or when the first tooth emerges to establish healthy habits and comfort with dental care. It emphasizes the importance of caring for baby teeth, as they guide development of permanent teeth.

1. How to Introduce
Kids to Oral Care
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic
Specialists of Michigan
Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas,
Ker, and Associates

2. 39400 Garfield Rd.
Suite 200
Clinton Township,
MI 48038
586-286-0700
www.mychildsteeth.
com
BEFORE THE FIRST TOOTH
The first step any parent can take is to take care
of a baby’s mouth before the first tooth even
appears.
This includes using a washcloth or gauze to wipe
the mouth, especially after feeding. Rubber-like
devices could also be used as substitutes.

3. 39400 Garfield Rd.
Suite 200
Clinton Township,
MI 48038
586-286-0700
www.mychildsteeth.
com
TEETHING
The arrival of teeth is exciting but can
come with some temporary discomfort
which may make parents a little hesitant
to attempt to touch or clean children’s
mouths.
It is also very important to realize that
even though the baby teeth are not
permanent, they still play a very important
role in the current and future health of the
child.

4. 39400 Garfield Rd.
Suite 200
Clinton Township,
MI 48038
586-286-0700
www.mychildsteeth.
com
The First Tooth – Start
Proper Care
• The eruption of the first tooth is a major
milestone in children’s oral development and
this event signals the moment that your child
should begin a relationship with their pediatric
dentist.
• The pediatric dentists in our office focus on
education to make sure teeth and gums get
the care they need from the very beginning.
These early visits pay off in helping our
children become acclimated to the dental
setting also.

5. 39400 Garfield Rd.
Suite 200
Clinton Township,
MI 48038
586-286-0700
www.mychildsteeth.
com
CARING FOR BABY TEETH
• After babies finish meals, it is important to
wash excess food away from the teeth and
gums.
• Around the arrival of the first tooth, a soft
toothbrush may be introduced as a way of
getting the child used to the action of tooth
brushing.
• Positive efforts at an early age will pay
dividends for the adult teeth that arrive down
the line.

6. 39400 Garfield Rd.
Suite 200
Clinton Township,
MI 48038
586-286-0700
www.mychildsteeth.
com
AAPD RECOMMENDATIONS
• Kids can start using toothpaste at
around age 1 as recommended by the
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
(AAPD).
• Small amounts, like a thin smear across
the bristle tops should be more than
enough until children develop the ability
to spit and rinse their mouth after
brushing.

7. 39400 Garfield Rd.
Suite 200
Clinton Township,
MI 48038
586-286-0700
www.mychildsteeth.
com
• The AAPD also recommends that all
children should see a dentist by
around age 1 at the very latest or
around the time the first tooth
erupts.
• These early visits are extremely
helpful in educating parents on how
to care for children’s teeth and to
help children become comfortable
in the dental environment at a very
early age.
Schedule your baby’s first visit
now - 586-286-0700

8. ABOUT US
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in
pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968.
Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a
more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very
beginning.
Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our
orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be
Preferred Providers of Invisalign.
The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including
those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility with valued
hospital affiliations allowing services to be performed at DMC Children’s
Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and
our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont
hospitals.

9. 586-286-0700
39400 GARFIELD RD. SUITE 200
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI 48038
WWW.MYCHILDSTEETH.COM
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic
Specialists of Michigan
Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas,
Ker, and Associates

10. 586-286-0700
39400 GARFIELD RD. SUITE 200
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI 48038
WWW.MYCHILDSTEETH.COM
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic
Specialists of Michigan
Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas,
Ker, and Associates