12 Tips to Keep Kid’s Teeth Healthy

Did you know that tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children? American students miss 51 million hours of school every year because of oral health problems. The good news is there are safe and effective preventive measures that can protect teeth.

Tips for Healthy Kid’s Teeth

1. Schedule your child’s first visit to the dentist early. A child should visit a Pediatric Dentist within six months of eruption of the first tooth or by age one. A pediatric dentist can examine an infant or toddler’s mouth and teeth, and offer preventive information and care which will protect a little smile now and into the future.

2. Dental cavities can begin as soon as they appear in the mouth. A big concern is Early Childhood Caries (also known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries). Infants and toddlers are at risk for severe decay from using a bottle during naps, using a bottle during nighttime, or when they nurse continuously from the breast.

3. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems. Children depend on healthy teeth for chewing, speech, spacing, growth and development, self-esteem and confidence. Start children now on a lifetime of good dental habits. Visit your Pediatric Dentist every six months.

4. Encourage children to start drinking from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Children should never be put to bed with a bottle. At-will nighttime breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary teeth begin to erupt. Drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided. When juice is offered, it should be in a cup and during meal times.

5. Children should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.

6. Thumb sucking is perfectly normal for infants. Most children will stop by age 2 and it should be discouraged after age 4. Prolonged thumb sucking can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. Pediatric Dentists can suggest ways to address a prolonged thumb sucking habit.

7. Never dip a pacifier into honey or anything sweet before giving it to a baby.

8. Limit grazing when it comes to food items. It’s not just the type of food which can influence a child’s risk of developing cavities, but more importantly, it’s the frequency of eating. If your child is snacking or drinking sugary drinks all day, then they will be cavity prone all day.

9. Young children should use an appropriate size toothbrush with a small brushing surface. A fluoride toothpaste is not necessary for children under two years of age. After the age of two, a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste at each brushing is appropriate. Young children should always be supervised while brushing and taught to spit out rather than swallow toothpaste if possible.

10. Children who drink primarily bottled water may not be getting the fluoride they need. Check with your Pediatric Dentist about the need for fluoride supplements which will depend on several important things such as location, filtration, diet, and fluoride containing products currently being utilized in the home.

11. Between six months and 3 years, children may have sore gums when teeth erupt. Many children feel relief with a clean teething ring, cool spoon, or cold wet washcloth. Some parents prefer a chilled ring while others simply rub the baby’s gums with a clean finger.

12. Parents and caregivers need to take care of their own teeth so that cavity causing bacteria are not as easily transmitted to children. Expectant mother should brush, floss and visit a dentist regularly. Don’t clean pacifiers and eating utensils with your own mouth before giving them to children.

Primary Children’s Hospital has a modern pediatric dental clinic that provides primary and specialty care for infants, children and adolescents from birth through 17 years, and children with special needs from birth through 21 years. To learn more about the clinic, visit our website.

About the Author

Primary Children's Hospital

Primary Children’s Hospital ranks among the best children's hospitals. Located in scenic Utah, everything in our hospital is focused on providing the best care for children. For more than 90 years, we have been committed to helping children, families, and communities across the western United States.

http://primarychildrens.org

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