Instead of starting when their first tooth comes in, the report says they're starting at two or three-years-old, sometimes even older.
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In addition, they're not always brushing twice a day.
That allows plaque and tartar build-up, leading to cavities.
Bacteria also builds up in the body, possibly leading to infections.
The CDC also says many kids are using too much toothpaste.
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"Once children are at the age of two, we recommend that they use the amount of toothpaste that's the size of a grain of rice; and between the ages of three and six, they can just do a pea-sized amount of fluorinated toothpaste on the toothbrush," says Dr. Kimberly Giuliano of Cleveland Clinic Children's.
Dr. Giuliano says excess toothpaste causes deposits, pits, and discolorations on teeth - a condition called fluorosis.
Those stains are permanent.