For kids, Halloween is a time for dressing up in scary costumes, amassing lots of sweets enough to last for a month. As for moms, this should be a time too for reinforcing that daily reminder of brushing the teeth. However, are we really on the right track on caring for our kids oral health? How soon should we care for our child's mouth?

Babies' gums and tongue should be wiped with wet wash cloth or a soft gum brush after every feeding. When the babies began teething, soft and short bristled toothbrush suitable for infants with fluoride-free toothpaste may be used. The choice of a fluoride-free toothpaste is of importance for babies and toddlers due to their poor swallow reflex. Most toddlers too at this stage cannot gargle or completely rinse their mouth when brushing.