Brushing teeth. Toddlers need a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-fluoridated toothpaste (which they can swallow and should use until they can start spitting toothpaste out). But how to brush a busy toddler’s teeth? “A lot of children want to do it themselves,” says Dr. Kowolik. “Try saying to him: ‘You’re better at taking the toothpaste off, so I’m going to put the toothpaste on.’ This means that you brush his teeth first, and then he can have a turn.” She also suggests sitting him in front of you and opening your mouth so he’ll imitate and open wide for you.  

First visit to the dentist. According to the AAPD, you should schedule the first dentist visit shortly after your child’s first birthday. Don’t expect a full examination. This visit is more to educate both you and your child about future visits by showing the equipment and introducing staff. “The staff will also talk about tooth brushing and the child can have her teeth looked at sitting on a parent’s knee,” says Dr. Kowolik.

Bottles and sippy cups. During the visit, the dentist is also likely to outline a few bad habits you might be unknowingly guilty of, such as putting your little one to bed with a bottle of milk or juice, or having her suck on a sippy cup all day long. “That’s like sipping a can of pop all day -- you’ll get more dental disease that way than if you drank the whole can at once,” says Dr. Kowolik. The problem: the milk or juice is constantly bathing the teeth in sugary fluids. Instead, save those drinks for meals only, and let your child drink water in between and when she’s going to bed.