Top Tooth Care Mistakes Parents Make With Their Kids

Child brushing teeth with colorful toothbrush

Top 10 Tooth-Care Mistakes Parents Make (And How To Fix Them)

By Dr. Shrey Dhawan, MDS (Endodontics) — Bite Dental Clinic, Meera Bagh & Gurugram

1. Waiting for the “first problem” to visit the dentistFix: Book the first dental check by age 1 (or within 6 months of the first tooth) and keep 6-monthly recalls.

   
   

2. Bedtime bottles/feeds without cleaning afterFix: After milk/feeds, wipe gums/teeth (infants) or brush (toddlers+). Offer water only at night; avoid juice.

   
   

3. “Baby teeth don’t matter”Fix: Primary teeth hold space, aid speech & chewing. Treat decay early to prevent pain, infection and crooked eruptions.

   
   

4. Starting brushing late or using non-fluoride pastesFix: Begin as soon as the first tooth erupts. Use fluoride:

   0–3 yrs: smear/rice-grain ~1000 ppm

   3–6 yrs: pea-size 1000–1450 ppm

   6+ yrs: pea-size 1450 ppm

   
   

5. Letting kids brush unsupervised too soonFix: Guide and supervise till ~8 years (shoelace rule). Night brushing is non-negotiable.

   
   

6. Brushing… then rinsing it all awayFix: Spit, don’t rinse. A tiny sip of water at most to keep fluoride working.

   
   

7. All-day grazing on sticky carbs & hidden sugarsFix: Keep sugary/sticky foods with meals, water between meals, and aim for ≤1 sugary exposure/day.

   
   

8. Skipping preventive treatmentsFix: Ask about fissure sealants (deep grooves in molars) and fluoride varnish—quick, painless cavity reducers.

   
   

9. Ignoring dental injuriesFix: After any tooth knock/bump, call your dentist. If a permanent tooth is avulsed, keep it moist (milk/saline/cheek) and reach us within 60 minutes. Don’t scrub the root.

   
   

10. No sports mouthguardFix: Use a custom mouthguard for cricket, football, skating, etc. Cheaper than fixing a fractured tooth.

    
    

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Bite Dental Clinic — Pediatric Dentist in West Delhi & Gurugram📞 98106 64561 • ✉️ drshreydhawan@gmail.comDon’t just smile, Laugh with Bite Dental.

Bathroom shelf with children's toothbrushes and toothpaste