Children's Dental Health

Ensuring proper dental health from a young age is crucial for children’s overall well-being. Like a sturdy foundation for a house, healthy teeth and gums provide the groundwork for a lifetime of confident smiles and pain-free chewing. Just as we teach our little ones to tie their shoes or read a book, instilling good oral hygiene habits early on sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy dental practices. Here’s what you we think you need to know to help keep those precious smiles sparkling bright.

First Tooth, First Birthday, First Dental Visit

New parents often ask, “When should my baby first see a dentist?” We advise you to establish a dental home for your child so that there’s a continuity of care. Your child’s first visit to a dentist should be before his/her first birthday or within 6 months after the first tooth comes in. During this initial visit, the dentist examines the child’s mouth, addresses any concerns, and provides guidance on oral care. The dentist can also monitor the child’s teething progress, offer preventive measures as needed, and address any of your concerns.

Protect Tiny Teeth 

Baby teeth stay in a child’s mouth for 6-12 years and affect their speaking, chewing, and smiling. Baby teeth can also indicate a child’s overall quality of health, and save space for a child’s permanent teeth. Untreated tooth decay can cause oral infections that enter the bloodstream and cause serious health problems, while also allowing bacteria to spread to new adult teeth.

What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Infants and young children under one year of age are at risk of baby bottle tooth decay, caused by sugary liquids and bacteria that remain in the child’s mouth all night. The sugar converts into acid, leading to enamel erosion and tooth decay. Liquids such as milk, formula, juice, and soda contribute to this condition. If your child needs to sleep with a bottle, pure water is the safest option.

Parents, Did You Know?

Early childhood tooth decay has become the most common chronic childhood disease, impacting more children than asthma. According to the ADA, more than 40% of children have tooth decay by the time they reach Kindergarten. Additionally, kids who suffer from poor oral health are three times more likely to miss school as a result of dental pain.

The State of Maryland has tried to tackle this oral health epidemic by requiring each child to receive a dental examination before enrolling in school. That does not suffice. Without regular six-month check-ups and establishing healthy oral health habits at an early age, small cavities can lead to much larger problems in little mouths.

Tips for Maintaining Your Child’s Oral Health 

Our dentists are dedicated to serving our young patients during these crucial early childhood years. We advise following the oral health tips below to enable your child to enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles. Here are some key points:

  • Dental decay is an infectious transmissible disease. Cavities are caused by bacteria. If a caretaker has active tooth decay (cavities) or periodontal (gum) disease in their mouth, a child can be contaminated by the caretaker’s saliva. Avoid testing the temperature of the bottle with your mouth, sharing utensils (e.g. spoons), or cleaning a pacifier or a bottle nipple by putting it in your mouth. 
  • Clean your baby’s gums after feeding. Until teeth come in, after each feeding gently wipe a damp washcloth over the baby’s gums to clear away harmful bacteria.
  • As teeth come in. Once the first tooth comes in, start to use a child’s soft bristled toothbrush, using only water (no toothpaste!), in addition to massaging the gum tissues. 
  • Use plain water to brush the child’s teeth twice a day until they turn 2 years old. Using fluoride toothpaste may damage the enamel structure of the permanent teeth. Per If your drinking water is not fluoridated, talk to your pediatrician or dentist about infant fluoride supplements.
  • Check your child’s mouth. Lift your child’s lips regularly to check for suspicious small white or brown spots on his/her teeth. If you see these white or brown spots, which may indicate dental decay (cavities), schedule an appointment with the child’s dentist right away.
  • At age 2, begin brushing with a pea-sized amount (small smear) of fluoridated toothpaste. Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste. Observe to ensure that your child does not swallow the toothpaste.
  • Begin flossing. Once your child’s teeth touch, you can start flossing in between them. Plastic floss picks work well for children.
  • Begin to teach your child how to brush his/her teeth. Generally, children will need help with brushing until they have the hand coordination to clean their own teeth effectively. Children should be able to brush unsupervised by the age of six or seven.
  • Snack healthy! Fruit juice, sports drinks, fruit snacks, and sticky candies all pose serious threats to your child’s teeth. Give kids calcium-rich snacks like cheese or low-sugar yogurt. If you have to resort to candy, a chocolate bar is preferable to gummy or sticky sweets that can get lodged in between the teeth.
  • Keep children hydrated! Avoid sugary drinks and stick to good old-fashioned water. Water helps to rinse away any sugar or particles that can lead to cavities.
  • Replace your child’s toothbrush every three to four months, or before that if the bristles become frayed or matted or if they curl out at the edges.
  • Schedule routine check-ups. If it’s been more than six months since your child has seen a dentist, schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

For more details on what you can do to protect your child’s teeth at different stages of their life from birth to age 5, including tips about teething, visit the excellent directions from the New York State Department of Health, https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/dental/birth_oral_health.htm 

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