Dental Care Guidelines For Parents

Click on the question below to jump to the answer. Please contact the Dental Support Center if you have any questions about this or other dental information.

• Should I clean my infant’s mouth?

• How can I help my child brush?

• When should my child start using toothpaste? And how much toothpaste should I use?

• Does my child need to floss?

• When should my child visit the dentist?

• How can I prepare my child for a visit to the dentist?

• Does my child need braces?

• Where can I find my local dental clinic?

• What information do I bring to my appointment at an IHS dental clinic?

• I have a question for the Dental Support Center.

Should I clean my infant’s mouth?

Yes! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft & clean damp washcloth.

Begin brushing your child's teeth when the first tooth erupts. Clean and massage gums in areas that remain toothless.

How can I help my child brush?

1. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
2. Use child-size toothbrush instead of adult-size toothbrush
3. Use Fluoride toothpaste
4. Help your child brush until 10-12 years old
   
5. Brush together! Young children learn best by modeling and will be more interested in learning to brush and later floss their own teeth when they see their parents doing so every day.
   

When should my child start using toothpaste? And how much toothpaste should I use?

Children age 1-2: Use a slight smear of toothpaste

Children age 3-5: Use 1/2 of a pea-size amount of toothpaste

Children age 6 and older: Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste

Does my child need to floss?

Once any two of your child's teeth touch each other, it's time to start flossing.

Flossing helps to prevent cavities by removing plaque and food particles caught between teeth. It should be an important part of your child's dental routine.

When should my child visit the dentist?

Have your child visit by:

• Their 1st birthday, or
• When their 1st tooth appears

How can I prepare my child for a visit to the dentist?

• Read your child a book about going to the dentist.
• Be positive about going to the dentist!
• Do not talk about being afraid of the dentist.
• Do no talk about pain.
• Answer your child’s questions about going to the dentist.
• Make it a habit for your child of going to the dentist regularly.
• A first dental visit should be a positive experience for your child.

Does my child need braces?

Your family dentist will most likely be the first to point out any problem -- such as a severe overbite, crowded or crooked teeth, or a cross-bite -- that calls for a consultation with an orthodontist.

Where can I find my local dental clinic?

ACL Dental Clinic, 505.552.5310
Alamo Health Center. 575.854.2626
Albuquerque IHS Dental Clinic, 505.346.2306
Dulce Health Clinic, 575.759.7211
Isleta Health Center, 505.869.4499
Jemez Health Center, 575.834.7388
Mescalero Dental Clinic, 575.464.3832
Pine Hill Dental Clinic, 505.775.3271
San Felipe Dental Clinic, 505.867.5025
Sandia Dental Clinic, 505.867.4596
Santa Clara Dental Clinic, 505.753.9421
Santa Fe Dental Clinic, 505.946.9485
Santo Domingo Dental Clinic, 505-465-3078
Southern Ute Dental Clinic, 970.563.4581
Taos/Picuris Dental Clinic, 575.758.4224
Ute Mountain Dental Clinic, 970.565.4441
Ysleta del Sur Dental Clinic, 915.858.1076
Zuni Dental Clinic, 505.782.7349

What information do I bring to my appointment at an IHS dental clinic?

1. CIB (Certificate of Indian Blood/Tribal Enrollment Card)
2. Birth Certificate
3. Social Security Card
4. Dental Insurance Card (Medicaid/Private Insurance)
   • Medicaid and private insurance are accepted. Medicaid and private insurance payments support additional services and equipment that IHS may not otherwise be able to provide.

I have a question for the Dental Support Center.

Please contact the Dental Support Center Health Educator at 505.922.4229 or crystal.begay@ihs.gov.

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