Preventing Dental Decay in Children
Providing for a child’s dental health begins at the earliest stages of life. Starting early with proper dental care can lead to a lifetime of healthy habits and ultimately minimize the impact of dental decay and disease. In addition to providing quality and compassionate dental care to patients from infancy through adolescence, Growing Smiles Children's Dentistry is committed to educating families about the many techniques which aid in preventing dental decay in children.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry notes that tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, yet 90 percent of all tooth decay is preventable. Prevention techniques come in many forms, and can be significant factors in achieving optimum dental health for your child.
The following are ways in which parents can combat this preventable tooth decay in children:
Dental visit within Year 1: Dental visits should begin around six months but no later than one year, or with the appearance of a child’s first tooth. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental decay. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily, learn to speak clearly and smile with confidence.
Prevent tooth decay from nursing or using a bottle: To best battle tooth decay, at-will breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary (baby) teeth begin to appear and other sources of nutrition are introduced. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle containing anything other than water. Drinking other beverages, especially from a bottle, should be avoided as they can damage teeth and lead to cavities.
Fluoride use: Young children require fluoride to help developing teeth grow strong. Fluoride also helps prevent tooth decay in older children when used on a regular basis. Children who drink primarily bottled water may not be getting the fluoride needed to promote healthy teeth.
Healthy eating habits: Parents should ensure their children are eating a balanced diet and limit frequency of snacking on sugary foods, which can increase a child’s risk of developing cavities. In addition, avoiding soda, energy drinks and juices with high sugar content can lead to better dental health and prevent dental decay.
Date to start cleaning a baby’s teeth: It is never to soon to start! Beginning at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. As soon as the teeth begin to appear, you can start brushing two times daily using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft, age-appropriate sized toothbrush. It is important to remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively, so for children under the age of 2, use a "smear" of toothpaste to brush a child’s teeth. For the 2-5 year old, dispense a "pea-size" amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child’s tooth-brushing.
Other Decay-Fighting Tips:
- Never dip a pacifier into honey or anything sweet before giving it to a baby.
- The best times for your child to brush are after breakfast and before bed. After breakfast removes any cavity-producing elements for the rest of the day. Before bed is essential, because during sleep, the mouth gets drier, which makes it easier for acids from bacteria to attack your child’s teeth.
- Take good care of your own teeth. Not only does it model healthy dental habits to your children, but additionally studies show that babies and small children can “catch” cavity-causing bacteria from their parents.
For more information on prevention of dental decay, or to schedule an appointment, please contact Growing Smiles Children's Dentistry.