Parents may be surprised to know the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention says tooth decay is five times more common than asthma and
seven times more common than hay fever in children. More than 40
percent of children have tooth decay by the time they reach
kindergarten.
Experts at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics say get your child to
the dentist early.
“12 months old is the recommended age for the first dental visit,” says
Brenda Bohaty, DDS, pediatric dentist with Children’s Mercy. “That
appointment is mainly for education and to see how the child is doing
and to educate parents how to take care of the baby teeth.”
Dr. Bohaty says preventing cavities means more than just brushing and
flossing. She says the level of bacteria in a child’s mouth, diet and
how a child cleans and flosses his teeth plays a role in developing
cavities.
“Many times cavities don’t occur just in those grooves or tops of the
teeth and occur between the teeth. Those are surfaces we can’t get to
with sealants,” Dr. Bohaty says. “Then you’re looking at the need to
floss, consider additional fluoride applications and limiting sugary
drinks.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips to help keep your
child’s pearly whites healthy:
Fluoride: It strengthens the tooth enamel and reduces the
ability of plaque bacteria to produce acid. Check with your local water
utility agency to find out if your water has fluoride in it.
Check and Clean Your Baby’s Teeth: Healthy teeth should be
all one color. If you see spots or stains on the teeth, talk to your
dentist. Clean your child’s teeth at least twice a day using a clean,
soft cloth or a baby’s toothbrush.
Feed Your Baby Healthy Food: Choose drinks and foods that
don’t have a lot of sugar in them and stock up on fruits and veggies.
Be careful with dried fruits, like raisins, they can easily stick to
the grooves of teeth and can cause cavities if not thoroughly brushed
off the teeth.
Prevent Tooth Decay: If you put your baby to bed with a
bottle, fill it only with water. Milk, formula, juices and other sweet
drinks, all have sugar in them and can cause tooth decay.
