Caring for Permanent Teeth

Until your child is between 6 and 8 years old, you should continue to help him or her brush at least twice a day — once in the morning and once before bed. It's very important to keep your child's teeth free of food particles, especially the molars. These teeth have lots of little grooves and crevices where food particles can hide.

The easiest way to help your child brush is to cradle his or her head in your one arm, while keeping your other hand free for brushing. Once children have the coordination and dexterity, they can brush on their own. However, be sure to inspect after each brushing and go over spots he or she may have missed.

A few other tips:

Use a soft nylon toothbrush with just a small, pea-size dab of fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child how to spit out the foamy saliva so he or she doesn't swallow it.

As soon as any two of your child's teeth touch each other, floss the teeth. After age 9, children have enough dexterity to begin to floss their own teeth. Flossing removes food from between the teeth where a toothbrush can't reach and helps prevent cavities.

Talk to your child's dentist or pediatrician to be sure he or she is getting the right amount of fluoride.