Booklet - Oral Health Care for your Children

Dietary Habit and Dental Health 0 to 6 months old Parents should not limit the frequency of feeding their babies as children below 6 months old are too young to establish a regular eating habit. This is especially true for infants, whose main source of nutrition is milk. Therefore parents should rather work on the principle of feeding. Many parents put their babies to bed with a bottle of milk. This will greatly increase the chance for your child to get cavities as your child’s teeth will always be bathed in milk, leading to constant attacks by acids. Parents should: 1. Stop feeding when your baby is asleep. 2. Never allow your baby to be put to sleep with a mouthful of milk or drink of any flavors. 3. Train your baby to regularly take 6-8 meals a day when he/she is 6 months old 6 months to 2 years old At this stage, the primary teeth gradually erupt and children are allowed to take in solid food. It is important for parents to train their children to have regular dietary habits to prevent them from getting tooth decay and Early Childhood Caries (Please refer to P. 26): 1. Feed your baby on a regular basis. When your baby is 6 months old, divide his/her daily food, milk and other dietary consumption into 6 – 8 meals. Feed him/her only with drinking water between meals. 2. Do not feed your child with more than 6 regular meals a day when he/she gets older. 3. Never allow your baby to be put to sleep with milk or drink of any flavors in his/her mouth. 4. Start helping your child to drink from a cup when your child is around 7 to 9 months old. It is best to wean your child from bottle before 18 months of age. After 2 years old It is wonderful to see children growing day by day. Sometimes, parents may praise or encourage their children with snacks. However, this will increase the number of times your child eats or drinks and subsequently increase the chance of developing tooth decay. Parents should remember: 1. Not to let your child eat or drink too frequently – after 2 years old, a child should not be fed for more than 6 times a day. 2. Establish a regular dietary habit for your child – Each day, feed your child regularly with 3 meals in sufficient quantities. Provide your child with snacks only once between meals when necessary. 3. Your child’s favourite snacks and drinks can be included in these meal and snack times. 4. Give only drinking water outside the meal and snack times. 5. After 2 years old, a child must be weaned from bottle to cup. Feed your child with cups and never allow your child to sleep with a bottle of milk or drink of any flavors.