The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends beginning a regimen of oral hygiene as soon as your child is born. Before he even gets his first tooth, gently rub your baby's gums with a soft, damp wash cloth. Do this at least twice everyday to set your child up for a life of good oral habits.

Once your child gets his first tooth, you will need to up the ante. It is now time to buy your child's first "toothbrush." A good choice is the tooth and gum cleanser from Baby Orajel. The "toothbrush" slips over your finger and has soft bristle-like protrusions that help to remove plaque from those new teeth. Continue to brush your child's teeth twice daily to solidify this habit into your child's life.

Remember to never use adult or even children's toothpaste on your young child's teeth. While fluoride can help prevent cavities in older children and adults, it can be harmful to young children when swallowed.

When your child is able to spit out his toothpaste, usually around age three, he is old enough for a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. However, you may choose to continue using fluoride-free toothpaste to brush your child's teeth.

As your child matures and is able to begin brushing his own teeth, begin to get your child to brush his teeth a third time during the day. This can usually be done either after lunch, or when your child gets home from school. Choose a time that coincides with another event during the day in which to associate the third brushing.

An extremely, yet often overlooked aspect to good oral hygiene in children is flossing. Be sure to begin a flossing routine with your child when he is a toddler, about age 2 or 3. Always keep an eye on your child when he is flossing to ensure that he doesn't choke on the dental floss, and to check that he is flossing correctly.

If your child has an aversion to keeping up with oral hygiene, try to make it fun. First, always brush your teeth alongside your child. This will show him that it is something "big people" do, too. Another way to make it fun is to try singing a song while brushing. Your child will undoubtedly giggle at the way words sound silly with a toothbrush in your mouth. You could also create a sticker chart for him to put stickers on each time he finishes brushing. With a chart, he will have something to look forward to, and you will have a way to be sure your child is brushing as often as he should. You could even go as far as to give him a prize when he reaches a certain amount of stickers.

With a little creativity, your child will love taking care of his teeth.

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