Habits for dental care begin to develop when the baby is 6 months old, stops nursing and the first tooth tends to appear.

It is important to limit foods of high sugar content from infancy and instil good habits in the child.

Packaged fruit juices should not be consumed to excess as they are rich in sugar, nor should the dummy be dipped in products with a high Cariogenic potential (for example, honey), nor accustom the child to keeping a bottle containing sweet liquids in his/her mouth for a long period of time. These habits can seriously damage the temporary teeth and lead to a high rate of Caries in the baby teeth.

From the moment the first tooth appears (at approximately 6 months of age) the parents must clean it after the ingestion of food with a sterile gauze soaked in physiological saline solution.

By the time the child is two, the majority of his/her teeth will have come through and can be brushed with a children’s toothbrush with small head, wide handle, soft and rounded filaments and fun design. It is not advisable to use a toothpaste with fluoride as there is a risk they may swallow it, which is why it is preferable to dampen the toothbrush in water or Mouthwash, or use toothpaste without fluoride until the child learns not to swallow it (at around 4-5 years of age).

The milk teeth must be cleaned from the moment they appear. Although they are temporary, they provide good practice for the definitive ones. They also play a primary role in mastication and learning to speak, as well as serving as a guide for the future permanent teeth.

The premature loss of any of them (through caries or trauma) can cause the remaining teeth to move and the permanent teeth to erupt poorly aligned or with defects in the enamel.

The brushing of teeth must become a fun game between children and parents after each meal. That way, the child is motivated and learns to brush correctly. The parents must check and go over the brushing.

From the age of 2 is an appropriate time to take away the dummy or abandon a thumb-sucking habit, if applicable. They can deform the position of the teeth, the maxillary bone, where the teeth are stored (causing an open bite).

They also prevent the child from learning to position the tongue correctly when swallowing (atypical deglutition).

The first visit to the dentist is recommended when the child is three years of age, as the first series of teeth have appeared by this age. From then on, the child should visit a dentist every 6 months for a check-up. You must be attentive and if any anomaly appears, such as stains or spots, go to the dentist.