What Is Anticipatory Guidance?
Anticipatory guidance involves counseling families about expected developmental changes and potential dental needs at each stage of childhood, starting from the prenatal period. This includes sharing practical advice to support healthy habits, prevent oral diseases, and address specific risk factors before problems occur.
There are key age-specific anticipatory guidance points that parents should know to support healthy oral and general development at each stage.
In this part, anticipatory guidance for early childhood is discussed.
Guidance for Infants (0–12 Months):
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Wipe gums after feedings and introduce a soft toothbrush as soon as the first tooth appears.
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Avoid putting babies to bed with bottles to prevent early childhood caries.
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Encourage breastfeeding and healthy nutrition
Toddlerhood (1–3 Years):
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Brush teeth twice daily with a smear of fluoride toothpaste; supervise brushing to ensure thorough cleaning.
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Teach children to drink from a cup and transition away from bottles and pacifiers to prevent malocclusion.
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Limit sugary foods and drinks, encourage water.
Every parent can help protect their child’s smile with preventive care and timely dental guidance. Consider scheduling your child’s first dental visit by age one and ask your pediatric dentist about anticipatory guidance for each new milestone.
What oral health question would you like answered for your child’s current age group? Share it below!
MBH/AB