Booklet - Oral Health Care for your Children

FAQ My child does not want to brush his teeth, how can I establish a toothbrushing habit for him? It takes time to establish a good oral care habit for your child. Parents must be patient as brushing teeth in the morning and before bed at night is a crucial habit of your child. It will benefit him for a lifetime. Parents should find out the reasons behind and think of ways to guide him to exercise the good habit. To create a cheerful environment for toothbrushing by singing songs while brushing your child’s teeth or making it a game by taking turns in brushing the child’s teeth. Don’t forget to praise your child for the good work when he is willing to brush his teeth. Allow your child to pick his favorite toothbrush and toothpaste in order to increase his interest in toothbrushing. Be a role model as your child always wants to follow what you do. Will it reduce the chance of getting tooth decay by drinking water after eating? Acid will be produced within a short period of time whenever we eat or drink. The acid will demineralize our tooth surface and cause decay. Since water cannot neutralize the acid produced, drinking water after eating cannot reduce the chance of getting tooth decay. Do I have to wipe the surface of my child’s tongue when I clean his mouth? If you found some traces of milk on your child’s tongue, you can wipe it off with a damp gauze. However, be careful not to poke your finger too far back into your child’s mouth as you may touch his sensitive area, causing him to vomit. When should my child start using the cup? And why does he need a cup? To prevent your child from Early Childhood Caries, you should help your child to drink from a cup when he is around 7 to 9 months old. It is best to completely wean your child from the bottle before he is 18 months old. Using a cup, the time for milk and other flavored drinks to stay in your child’s mouth is shorter than that when using a bottle.