Caring for your Child's Teeth

Start dental visits during infancy

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing your child to the dentist before his or her first birthday. At this initial visit, the dentist will:

• check your child's teeth for decay and signs of early developmental problems;
• explain how to care for your child's teeth; and
• answer any questions or concerns you might have.

Children should see a dentist every six months. To help your child develop a positive attitude about the dentist:

• Take your child with you when you go in for a checkup so he/she can get used to the office and its staff.
• Avoid using negative words such as "needle" and "hurt."
• "Play dentist" to familiarize your child with what takes place during a visit.
• Ask your dentist how he or she explains procedures to children.
• Answer your child's questions honestly and sensitively.

Caring for an infant's teeth

Cleaning a child's teeth should begin when the first tooth is visible, because teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they appear in the mouth.

Wipe the baby's teeth and gums clean after every feeding with a soft, damp washcloth or gauze pad. A leading cause of tooth decay among young children is known as "baby bottle syndrome." When an infant is allowed to drink from a nursing bottle containing milk, formula or fruit juice during nap time or at night, the baby often falls asleep with the bottle in his or her mouth. Exposure to the sugars and acids in these liquids that pool around the teeth can cause discoloration and decay.

Since breast milk contains sugar, decay also can occur when a baby falls asleep while breast-feeding. To prevent damage to the teeth, clean your child's teeth after each feeding and, if necessary, give him or her a bottle filled only with water at bedtime or during a nap.

Eating and drinking habits are key to healthy teeth

Studies have shown that children who drink fluoridated water from birth have up to 65 percent fewer cavities, and by the time they become teenagers, many of them still have no tooth decay.

If you live in a community without a fluoridated water supply, you can make sure your kids get their fluoride by using tablets, drops or gel and by having topical fluoride treatments applied at the dental office (to check whether your drinking water contains fluoride, call your local water company or health department). Using a fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse is also effective.

A balanced diet is also an important contributor to healthy teeth and gums. Children especially need calcium, which helps build strong teeth. Good sources of calcium are milk, cheese and yogurt. Research shows that eating cheese after meals seems to inhibit the effects of decay-causing acids. Avoid snacks containing sugar or starch.

By age 3

Children should be brushing their own teeth under adult supervision. Only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is necessary. Start flossing your child's teeth daily when all the primary teeth are in or when teeth are touching each other.

By age 8

Children should be able to brush and floss by themselves, with occasional checks. Turn brushing and flossing into a daily routine — make it fun by giving your child a colorful toothbrush and bubble gum-flavored floss.

With a parent’s guidance and proper personal and professional care, children have a good foundation for maintaining healthy teeth.

An Apple a Day

Reports from the Academy of General Dentistry suggest that the dietary habits of school children have an increase in sugar intake.  The study took place over a 15-month period in which researchers monitored the dietary habits of preschoolers before and after the beginning of the school year.  Within that time, the average number of tooth decay incidents leapt from 9.7 to 15.3.  In just one school year, the average preschool child developed 5.6 cavities.  Only 19 percent of these preschoolers were entirely free of cavities.

Marilynn Belek, DMD, chief dental officer and senior vice president of Delta Dental believes this proves the importance of basic dental education.  “This study substantiates the basics taught to dental school students that diet is an important part of proper oral health," says  Belek.  She goes on to explain that the easiest way for parents to help their children prevent tooth decay is to keep track of their eating habits.  Parents should find out what kind of food schools offer their children for lunch.  "If programs do not offer healthy alternatives, talk to the school about incorporating healthy lunches or snacks," says Belek.  Another option for preventing cavities is to protect your children’s teeth with dental sealants, which are thin coatings of bonding material that are applied to the teeth.  These act as barriers to the bacteria that causes cavities and can be applied as soon as the child’s first molars come in.

Belek also suggests alternatives to candy and other sugary snacks at home, like apples and bite-sized carrots.    Any increase in sugar can raise the risk of developing cavities, especially in children.  Every time your child consumes some form of sugary substance, organisms in their mouths feed on the sugar and produce acid that erodes the protective enamel, causing tooth decay.  It’s a good idea for children to brush their teeth and rinse with water after lunch if they eat something sugary, but simply eating a piece of fruit can help clean the surface of the teeth and gums.  An apple a day really can keep the dentist away (although a dental exam every six months is still recommended by most dentists).