Advice from the Dental Experts in Rockland County, NY:
What is the best way to teach dental hygiene and habits to toddlers and young children?
"Start by limiting sweets and candy, and give them healthy choices of raw fruits and vegetables. Up until age 8, brush your child's teeth for them twice a day. Floss their teeth and have them watch you floss to instill healthy habits."
-Sherri Alpert, DDS, of Dental Wellness of Suffern in Suffern, NY
"Even when they are a few months old, wipe their gums and tongue so they get used to having something in their mouth for cleaning. Get them used to brushing with a toothbrush by the time they're one; they don't have to use toothpaste because the act of brushing is more important."
-Ralph Berk, DDS, of Rockland Pediatric Dental in New City, NY
"Monitor the amount of sugary drinks and snacks. Kids that have three square meals and one snack are less likely to get cavities than kids who snack constantly. Also, don't put babies to bed with a bottle of juice, and wean them off the bottle at 12 months old."
-Angela Boudounis, DDS, of Nyack Pediatric Dentistry in Nyack, NY
"Lead by example and show them how you brush. Make sure when they are done brushing their teeth, you do it for them as well. Be consistent and make sure they understand it gets done every day."
-Scott Peters, DMD, of Scott C. Peters DMD LLC in Mahwah, NJ
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