Children should be taught how to maintain their dental hygiene from a young age, it has been suggested.
According to a report in the Jakarta Post, oral health expert Armasastra Bahar advised encouraging youngsters to clean their mouths even before their teeth appear.
He suggested beginning by cleaning baby’s gums with soft, wet washcloths after feeding, which will help them become familiar with keeping their mouths fresh.
Then, when the child develops teeth, parents should brush them with their finger or small baby brushes.
"Growing up, they will get used to having clean teeth and mouths," Mr Bahar commented.
"They will likely build toothbrushing habits," he added.
Such notions were supported by fellow dentist Ratu Mirah Afifah, who advocated teaching by example in ensuring youngsters see their parents cleaning their teeth regularly, adding the best time to clean teeth is after breakfast and before going to bed.
Last year, a survey conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation revealed that a quarter of mothers and fathers thought their kids did not need to brush their teeth twice a day, the BBC reported.
