Article courtesy of Payne Financial Group's Live Well, Work Well newsletter, February 2011 issue.

Just because children's primary teeth eventually fall out doesn't mean that they can go without dental care. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should see a dentist when their first tooth appears and no later than their first birthday. Babies with dental issues due to trauma, disease or a developmental abnormality should see a dentist immediately. And home dental care is just as important.

Start building good habits at home as your child's teeth start to grow in - between the ages of 6 months and 3 years old.

- Start brushing your child's teeth as soon as they grow in, and for the first 3-4 years or until the child is able to brush alone.

- Start flossing your child's teeth as soon as there are two or more teeth touching each other. Assist your child until he or she can floss alone.

- If your local water supply does not contain sufficient fluoride, your child may need fluoride supplements. Discuss this with your dentist.

- Do not put a child to bed with a bottle of juice. The sugar and acids can cause tooth decay. Nursing an infant to sleep is fine.

Consult your dentist with any questions you have about your child's dental care.