By age 3 most children have all 20 baby teeth. This is the most cavity-vulnerable window: enamel is thin, kids resist brushing, and grazing on carbs is constant.
Parents brush FOR the child until at least age 6. Twice a day, two minutes, rice-grain to pea-size fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride varnish 2–4× a year.
Milestones
- 12–14 mo: switch bottle to open cup
- By 2 y: all 20 baby teeth present
- By 3 y: cleanings every 6 months
Key risks at this stage
- Early childhood caries (peak risk age)
- Falls and dental trauma
- Sugary-snack grazing
Parent tips that actually work
- You brush their teeth — twice daily, 2 minutes
- Pea-size fluoride toothpaste from age 3
- Water between meals, not juice
- Book cleanings every 6 months from age 3
Red flags — see a dentist
- • Any brown or black spot on a tooth
- • Wakes crying with tooth pain
- • Refuses to eat cold food