Oral Health Checklist: Baby 0-12 Months

Oral Health Checklist (Baby)

Food and Drink

• If giving your baby a bottle, always hold her and do not prop the bottle in her mouth.
• Never put your baby to sleep with a bottle.
• Starting around 6 months, giv eyour baby a variety of baby foods from all of the food groups. These include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, cheese, yogurt, and grains.
• Start teaching your baby to drink from an open cup starting at 6 months.
• Do not give juice or sugary drinks to your baby.

Oral Hygiene

• Wipe your baby’s gums with a soft cloth or baby toothbrush after every feeding. This includes feeding breast milk, formula, and baby foods.
• Start using a rice-sized smear of baby toothpaste to clean your baby’s mouth once she gets her first tooth.
• Take your baby to the dentist by her first birthday or by the time she gets her first tooth.