According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2014
recommendations regarding oral hygiene in children: ”The child’s teeth should
be brushed twice a day as soon as the teeth erupt with a smear or a grain-of rice–
sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. After the third birthday, a pea-sized
amount should be used. Parents/caregivers should help/supervise a child
brushing his or her teeth until mastery is obtained, usually at around 8 years
of age.”
Some behaviors also need to be controlled to reduce the risk
of developing dental caries. Key behaviors that subject a child to high risk of
dental caries include:
-
continual bottle/sippy cup
use (especially with fluids other than water, especially milk and fruit juice),
-
sleeping with a bottle (especially
with fluids other than water),
-
frequent between-meal snacks
of sugars/cooked starch/ sugared beverages, and
-
frequent intake of sugared
medications.
Regarding fluoride supplementation, our mineral water has
enough of fluoride in it, so no need for supplementation.