Start early
Begin cleaning as soon as the first tooth appears, using a smear of fluoride toothpaste on a small soft brush. Children need help brushing until around the age of seven or eight — before that, they lack the manual dexterity to do it thoroughly, however willing they are.
Diet matters more than sugar quantity
How often sugar is eaten matters more than how much. Each exposure triggers an acid attack lasting around twenty minutes, so continuous snacking or sipping sweet drinks keeps teeth under near-constant attack. Keep sweets to mealtimes and offer water between meals.
Never let a child sleep with a bottle
Falling asleep with a bottle of milk or juice is a leading cause of early childhood decay. Saliva flow drops during sleep, leaving sugars in prolonged contact with the teeth.
Preventive treatments
Fissure sealants seal the deep grooves of the back teeth where decay usually starts and can reduce decay risk dramatically. Fluoride varnish, applied at check-ups, strengthens enamel and can reverse very early lesions. Both are quick, painless and well worth asking about.