A Summary of Oral Health Care for Children from 0 to 6 Years Teeth will erupt in the mouth in sequence (P.6-7) as your child grows. A good oral health depends on good dietary habit, (P.18-23), proper oral cleaning (P.10-17), and regular dental check-ups (P.24-25). To protect your child from Early Childhood Caries (P.26-27), you need to take appropriate oral care measures at different stages of his/her growth. Stage of Growth 0-6 months Having no teeth Oral Hygiene (P.10) Regularly wipe your baby’s mouth every night Dietary Habit (P.20) No limit to the number of meals Stop feeding when your baby is asleep. Never let your baby go to sleep with milk or drink of any flavors in his/her mouth. Oral Check-up (P.24) Check for changes in your baby’s mouth when you clean it every night. Visit a dentist if necessary Stage of Growth Around 6 months The first primary tooth erupts Oral Hygiene (P.14) Wipe your baby’s mouth and the newly erupted teeth twice a day: in the morning and after the last meal at night Start brushing your baby’s teeth with a soft infant toothbrush to get your baby accustomed to brushing Dietary Habit (P.21) Train your baby to regularly take 6-8 meals a day when he/she is 6 months old Do not feed your child with more than 6 regular meals a day when he/she gets older Do not allow your baby to eat or drink whenever he/she wants Help your child to drink from a cup when he/she is around 7 to 9 months old Oral Check-up (P.24) Visit the dentist for your child’s first check-up within 6 months after the first tooth erupts Stage of Growth Around 1 1/2 years The first primary molar erupts Oral Hygiene (P.14) Brush your child’s teeth with a toothbrush and drinking water in the morning and before bed at night Dietary Habit (P.21) Train your baby to regularly take 6-8 meals a day when he/she is 6 months old Do not feed your child with more than 6 regular meals a day when he/she gets older Do not allow your baby to eat or drink whenever he/she wants Help your child to drink from a cup when he/she is around 7 to 9 months old Oral Check-up (P.24) Visit the dentist for your child’s first check-up within 6 months after the first tooth erupts Stage of Growth 2-6 years old Having a full set of 20 primary teeth Oral Hygiene (P.16) Let your child brush his/her own teeth every morning and before bed at night with a toothbrush and a pea-sized blob of children’s fluoride toothpaste Remember to follow up by brushing your child’s teeth again every night Dietary Habit (P.21) Each day feed your child regularly with 3 meals in sufficient quantities Allow your child snack once in-between meals when necessary and drink water to quench thirst Oral Check-up (P.24) Visit the dentist for regular check-ups every 6 to 12 months