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The American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry recommends bringing your child to the dentist
before his/her first birthday. At this initial visit,
the dentist will:
- check your child's teeth for decay
and signs of early developmental problems;
- explain how to care for your child's
teeth; and
- answer any questions or concerns
you might have.
Children should see a dentist every
six months. To help your child develop a positive attitude
about the dentist:
- Take your child with you when
you go in for a checkup so he/she can get used to
the office and its staff.
- Avoid using negative words such
as "needle" and "hurt."
- "Play dentist" to familiarize
your child with what takes place during a visit.
- Ask your dentist how he/she explains
procedures to children.
- Answer your child's questions
honestly and sensitively.
Cleaning a
child's teeth should begin when the first tooth is
visible, because teeth are susceptible to decay as
soon as they appear in the mouth.
Wipe the baby's
teeth and gums clean after every feeding with a soft,
damp washcloth or gauze pad. A leading cause of tooth
decay among young children is known as "baby
bottle syndrome."
When an infant is allowed to drink from a nursing
bottle containing milk, formula or fruit juice during
nap time or at night, the baby often falls asleep
with the bottle in his or her mouth. Exposure to the
sugars and acids in these liquids that pool around
the teeth can cause discoloration and decay.
Since breast
milk contains sugar, decay also can occur when a baby
falls asleep while breast-feeding. To prevent damage
to the teeth, clean your child's teeth after each
feeding and, if necessary, give him or her a bottle
filled only with water at bedtime or during a nap.
Studies have
shown that children who drink fluoridated water from
birth have up to 65 percent fewer cavities, and by
the time they become teenagers, many of them still
have no tooth decay.
If you live
in a community without a fluoridated water supply,
you can make sure your kids get their fluoride by
using tablets, drops or gel and by having topical
fluoride treatments applied at the dental office (to
check whether your drinking water contains fluoride,
call your local water company or health department).
Using a fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse is also
effective.
A balanced
diet is also an important contributor to healthy teeth
and gums. Children especially need calcium, which
helps build strong teeth. Good sources of calcium
are milk, cheese and yogurt. Research shows that eating
cheese after meals seems to inhibit the effects of
decay-causing acids. Avoid snacks containing sugar
or starch.
Children should be brushing their
own teeth under adult supervision. Only a pea-sized
amount of toothpaste is necessary. Start flossing
your child's teeth daily when all the primary teeth
are in or when teeth are touching each other.
Children should
be able to brush and floss by themselves, with occasional
checks. Turn brushing and flossing into a daily routine-make
it fun by giving your child a colorful toothbrush
and bubble gum-flavored floss.
When your child's first molars
grow in around age six, the deep pits and fissures
in these back teeth are difficult to clean. Children
may have poor brushing habits and snack frequently,
which also contribute to increased frequency of tooth
decay at an early age.
Dental sealants may be a solution
to the problem. A sealant is a thin plastic coating
applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
By filling in the teeth's grooves, sealants create
a barrier against food and bacteria that cause decay.
Because there is no drilling involved when applying
sealants, there is no loss of tooth structure and
no discomfort. Sealants can be applied by a registered
dental hygienist or a dentist and take less time than
having a tooth filled. More
about sealants.
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