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Dental plaque is a sticky film that
adheres to the teeth. It is composed of bacteria,
food debris, and salivary components. Left undisturbed,
it can cause tooth decay. (See Module
3, section 3.5, Dental Caries.)
Parents should clean the infant’s
gums with a soft infant toothbrush and water after feedings even before the teeth erupt. Parents should begin cleaning the infant's teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts. A brush that is easy for the parent
to hold and small enough to fit in the infant’s
mouth is recommended.[1][2]
To ensure that brushing is safe and effective, the
infant should be seated in the parent’s lap,
with both parent and infant facing the same direction.
The parent should try to clean all tooth surfaces,
“lifting the lip” to brush at the gum
line and then behind the teeth.
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For infants and children under age 2, brush the teeth
with a smear of fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure
the child spits out the toothpaste after brushing, but
do not have the child
rinse with water. The small amount of fluoridated toothpaste
that remains in the mouth helps build strong healthy teeth.
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For children ages 2 and above, brush the child’s teeth with no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure the child spits out the toothpaste after brushing, but do not have the child rinse with water. The small amount of fluoridated toothpaste that remains in the mouth helps build strong healthy teeth.
Young children will want to hold the
toothbrush and participate in toothbrushing. An appropriate-size
toothbrush with a wide handle may be given to the
child to use. However, because effective plaque removal
requires good fine motor control, young children cannot
clean their teeth without parental help. After children
acquire fine motor skills (e.g., the ability to tie
their shoelaces), typically by age 7 or 8, they can
clean their teeth effectively but should be supervised
by a parent or another caregiver.[3]
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