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Care
of Your Child's Teeth
Good
Diet = Healthy Teeth
How Do
I Prevent Cavities?
Seal Out Decay
Fluoride
Mouth Guards
Xylitol - Reducing Cavities
Care of
Your Child’s Teeth
Begin
daily brushing as soon as the child’s first
tooth erupts. A pea size amount of fluoride
toothpaste can be used after the child is
old enough not to swallow it. By age 4 or 5,
children should be able to brush their own
teeth twice a day with supervision until
about age seven to make sure they are doing
a thorough job. However, each child is
different. Your dentist can help you
determine whether the child has the skill
level to brush properly.
Proper
brushing removes plaque from the inner,
outer and chewing surfaces. When teaching
children to brush, place toothbrush at a 45
degree angle; start along gum line with a
soft bristle brush in a gentle circular
motion. Brush the outer surfaces of each
tooth, upper and lower. Repeat the same
method on the inside surfaces and chewing
surfaces of all the teeth. Finish by
brushing the tongue to help freshen breath
and remove bacteria.
Flossing removes plaque between the teeth,
where a toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing
should begin when any two teeth touch. You
should floss the child’s teeth until he or
she can do it alone. Use about 18 inches of
floss, winding most of it around the middle
fingers of both hands. Hold the floss
lightly between the thumbs and forefingers.
Use a gentle, back-and-forth motion to guide
the floss between the teeth. Curve the floss
into a C-shape and slide it into the space
between the gum and tooth until you feel
resistance. Gently scrape the floss against
the side of the tooth. Repeat this procedure
on each tooth. Don’t forget the backs of the
last four teeth.
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Good
Diet = Healthy Teeth
 Healthy
eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like
the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and
the soft tissues of the mouth need a
well-balanced diet. Children should eat a
variety of foods from the five major food
groups. Most snacks that children eat can
lead to cavity formation. The more
frequently a child snacks, the greater the
chance for tooth decay. How long food
remains in the mouth also plays a role. For
example, hard candy and breath mints stay in
the mouth a long time, which cause longer
acid attacks on tooth enamel. If your child
must snack, choose nutritious foods such as
vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat
cheese, which are healthier and better for
children’s teeth.
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How Do I
Prevent Cavities?
Good oral hygiene removes
bacteria and the left over food particles
that combine to create cavities. For
infants, use a wet gauze or clean washcloth
to wipe the plaque from teeth and gums.
Avoid putting your child to bed with a
bottle filled with anything other than
water. See "Baby
Bottle Tooth Decay" for more
information.
For older children, brush
their teeth at least twice a day.
Also, watch the number of snacks containing
sugar that you give your children.
The American Academy of
Pediatric Dentistry recommends visits every
six months to the pediatric dentist,
beginning at your child’s first birthday.
Routine visits will start your child on a
lifetime of good dental health.
Your pediatric dentist
may also recommend protective sealants or
home fluoride treatments for your child.
Sealants can be applied to your child’s
molars to prevent decay on hard to clean
surfaces.
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Seal Out Decay
A
sealant is a clear or shaded plastic
material that is applied to the chewing
surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth
(premolars and molars), where four out of
five cavities in children are found. This
sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque
and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone
areas of the teeth.
Before Sealant Applied |
After Sealant Applied |
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Fluoride
Fluoride is an element, which has been shown
to be beneficial to teeth. However, too
little or too much fluoride can be
detrimental to the teeth. Little or no
fluoride will not strengthen the teeth to
help them resist cavities. Excessive
fluoride ingestion by preschool-aged
children can lead to dental fluorosis, which
is a chalky white to even brown
discoloration of the permanent teeth. Many
children often get more fluoride than their
parents realize. Being aware of a child’s
potential sources of fluoride can help
parents prevent the possibility of dental
fluorosis.
Some
of these sources are:
-
Too
much fluoridated toothpaste at an early
age.
-
The
inappropriate use of fluoride supplements.
-
Hidden sources of fluoride in the child’s
diet.
Two
and three year olds may not be able to
expectorate (spit out) fluoride-containing
toothpaste when brushing. As a result, these
youngsters may ingest an excessive amount of
fluoride during tooth brushing. Toothpaste
ingestion during this critical period of
permanent tooth development is the greatest
risk factor in the development of fluorosis.
Excessive and inappropriate intake of
fluoride supplements may also contribute to
fluorosis. Fluoride drops and tablets, as
well as fluoride fortified vitamins should
not be given to infants younger than six
months of age. After that time, fluoride
supplements should only be given to children
after all of the sources of ingested
fluoride have been accounted for and upon
the recommendation of your pediatrician or
pediatric dentist.
Certain foods contain high levels of
fluoride, especially powdered concentrate
infant formula, soy-based infant formula,
infant dry cereals, creamed spinach, and
infant chicken products. Please read the
label or contact the manufacturer. Some
beverages also contain high levels of
fluoride, especially decaffeinated teas,
white grape juices, and juice drinks
manufactured in fluoridated cities.
Parents can take the following steps to
decrease the risk of fluorosis in their
children’s teeth:
-
Use
baby tooth cleanser on the toothbrush of
the very young child.
-
Place only a pea sized drop of children’s
toothpaste on the brush when brushing.
-
Account for all of the sources of ingested
fluoride before requesting fluoride
supplements from your child’s physician or
pediatric dentist.
-
Avoid giving any fluoride-containing
supplements to infants until they are at
least 6 months old.
-
Obtain fluoride level test results for
your drinking water before giving fluoride
supplements to your child (check with
local water utilities).
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Mouth Guards
When a
child begins to participate in recreational
activities and organized sports, injuries
can occur. A properly fitted mouth guard, or
mouth protector, is an important piece of
athletic gear that can help protect your
child’s smile, and should be used during any
activity that could result in a blow to the
face or mouth.
Mouth
guards help prevent broken teeth, and
injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. A
properly fitted mouth guard will stay in
place while your child is wearing it, making
it easy for them to talk and breathe.
Ask
your pediatric dentist about custom and
store-bought mouth protectors.
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Xylitol - Reducing Cavities
The American Academy of
Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes the
benefits of xylitol on the oral health of
infants, children, adolescents, and persons
with special health care needs.
The use of XYLITOL GUM by
mothers (2-3 times per day) starting 3
months after delivery and until the child
was 2 years old, has proven to reduce
cavities up to 70% by the time the child was
5 years old.
Studies using
xylitol as either a sugar substitute or a
small dietary addition have demonstrated a
dramatic reduction in new tooth decay, along
with some reversal of existing dental
caries. Xylitol provides additional
protection that enhances all existing
prevention methods. This xylitol effect is
long-lasting and possibly permanent. Low
decay rates persist even years after the
trials have been completed.
Xylitol is
widely distributed throughout nature in
small amounts. Some of the best sources are
fruits, berries, mushrooms, lettuce,
hardwoods, and corn cobs. One cup of
raspberries contains less than one gram of
xylitol.
Studies suggest xylitol intake that
consistently produces positive results
ranged from 4-20 grams per day, divided into
3-7 consumption periods. Higher results did
not result in greater reduction and may lead
to diminishing results. Similarly,
consumption frequency of less than 3 times
per day showed no effect.
To find gum or
other products containing xylitol, try
visiting your local health food store or
search the Internet to find products
containing 100% xylitol.
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