The Department of Health for New York State says that it is important for children to develop good oral health habits at an early age because practicing healthy habits can prevent or reduce tooth decay in infants and children.
“Parents often do not think of the value of what they are doing for their kid’s oral health at home until an issue arises,” said Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, dentist and spokesman for the American Dental Association.
Teeth tend to appear between 6 to 8 months-old and by age 3, all 20 primary teeth should be in the mouth. Starting around age 6, baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, but it’s important to remember that both sets of teeth matter.
“When teeth first come they are exposed to saliva and the minerals that exist in the saliva and fluoride that enables minerals to be deposited completely into the tooth,” said Shenkin.
You have to give the teeth time to become strong. Diet plays a big role, and soda can be one of the worst culprits.
“If you are continually consuming sugars throughout the day you are constantly reducing the acid level in your mouth making teeth more susceptible to decay processes, so it is about the frequency and consumption,” said Shenkin.
“Poor oral hygiene combined with poor nutrition can cause tooth decay in kids that could be easily avoided.”
Set an example of how children should take care of their teeth by taking care of your own.
“If you do not have appropriate behaviors that improve oral health you put your kid at great risk for developing disease,” said Shenkin.
To do so you’ll need to have the right tools.
“A big change we made in the last year and a half is recommending fluoride toothpaste for children as soon as the first tooth erupts in the mouth,” said Shenkin. “We used to say age 2 was the first time you would provide fluoride toothpaste, but we changed it based on the amount you use and the age of the child.”
And you should know your measurements.
“We recommend at the eruption of the first tooth to start using a piece of toothpaste the size of a piece of rice to help parents visualize the amount, which is extremely small to minimize ingestion. And then at age 3 we recommend a pea-size amount,” said Shenkin.
Your child should be brushing twice a day.
“Morning and night is imperative and it is not just about putting the toothbrush in the mouth, it is about removing the plaque on the teeth and the sugars that cause the decay,” said Shenkin. “It is important that parents monitor toothbrushing until kids tie their own shoelaces, which is at 6 to 7 years of age, because they do not have the manual dexterity to appropriately remove plaque,” said Shenkin.
Sometimes the right toothbrush can make a big difference.
“Electric toothbrushes can inspire children to brush their teeth and they do a better job if they are excited about the process,” said Shenkin.
You’ll also need a trustworthy dentist who can help with the cleaning.
“We typically recommend at age 1 or within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth to have the first visit to find out what kind of risk factors exist,” said Shenkin. “We recommend seeing the dentist based on your risk level so some kids go once a year and some need to go 4 times a year.”
The dentist may have some individualized recommendations that consider your child’s needs.
“Parents do not realize the importance of dental sealants at the age of 6,” said Shenkin. Evidence shows they work wonders. “The most decayed tooth in the mouth for all of us is the adult first molar on the biting surface and the most effective way of reducing risk for tooth decay in young kids is to put a dental sealant or a little plastic coating on it to dramatically reduce the incidence of tooth decay,” said Shenkin. It is advised to do that on all permanent molars for kids.
If your child wants sugar, it is best with a meal.
“Do not have sugars in between meals because having it with meals would expand the time period that there are higher levels of acidity in the mouth,” said Shenkin. “Mistakes parents make are putting kids to bed at night with a bottle with fermentable sugars, juices, or milk because it can result in decay.”
February is National Children’s Dental Health month, making it the perfect time to talk with your child about why taking care of his teeth matters. And it may sound basic, but folks easily overlook the importance of dental health.
“The most important thing we have recognized is how kids can come to the dentist earlier to reduce disease levels, educate parents, and redirect behaviors in the household,” said Shenkin.
Jamie Lober, author of “Pink Power” (www.getpinkpower.com), is dedicated to providing information on women’s and pediatric health topics. She can be reached at jamie@getpinkpower.com. © 2015 Jamie Lober
