It's a milestone moment for any parent – the day when that first tooth makes its appearance. But how should parents ensure their child's pearly whites will last a lifetime?

Get a Head Start
"The key thing is to start early," says James Orbon, spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). "The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a 'first visit by first birthday.' At that visit, we'll show parents how to begin cleaning a child's mouth, which at that point involves wiping the gum with a wet gauze. This serves two purposes: It keeps the mouth and tongue clean and gets the child used to the idea of having his or her mouth cleaned."

For Maria Maggard, an Elmhurst, Ill., mother of one, it was important to start teaching good hygiene when her daughter was young. "We wanted to build good habits with our daughter early," Maggard says. "Now that she's a preschooler, she's almost ready to handle an electric toothbrush by herself."

Preventing Decay
Another key thing parents should do to encourage good dental health is to avoid nursing your child or putting him or her to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, juice or a sweetened liquid.

"Putting a baby or toddler to bed with a bottle filled with anything but water can cause tooth decay," Orbon says.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), as soon as teeth appear in the mouth, decay can occur. One serious form of decay among young children is baby bottle tooth decay. This condition can occur when an infant is allowed to drink continuously from a bottle of milk, formula, sugar water or fruit juice during naps or at night. If these liquids pool around the child's teeth during sleep, the teeth will be attacked by acids for long periods of time and serious decay can result. If you must give your baby a bottle as a comforter at bedtime, make sure it contains only water, the ADA recommends, and never dip a pacifier into sugar or honey.

Proper Cleaning Technique
Keeping teeth clean is the foundation for good dental health.

"Early on, parents need to assist in the process," says Orbon. "Before age 6, kids have a tendency to swallow the toothpaste. So before the second or third grade, parents should assist in the process since kids don't have the manual dexterity yet to do a good job. When kids start to get their second molars from 1 1/2 to 3 years of age, we use toothpaste and fluoride at their dental visits. If parents notice anything unusual such as discoloration of teeth or bleeding gums, they should take their child to the dentist."

Potential Problems
Gum disease is a key concern. According to the AAPD, recent studies show that nearly half of all children ages 2 and 3 have at least mild inflammation of the gums. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems.

Thumb sucking also can be a problem. The AAPD says that prolonged thumb sucking can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. "While the sucking response is natural, we recommend a pacifier rather than a thumb," Orbon says. "It's a much easier habit to break."

Orbon suggests other actions parents can take for their children's dental health include eating a balanced diet, limiting the intake of refined sugar, looking at cereal labels for sugar content and limiting extra food to afternoon snacks rather than allowing a child to snack all day.

Want to see more?

• Pacifiers: Love 'Em or Lose 'Em?
• Tooth Brushing: No Job for a Kid!
• Dental Essentials: Caring for Your Baby's Teeth Before They Appear
• Talk about it!

About the Author: Alice Patenaude is an Illinois-based freelance writer