 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Tips on Oral Health for Your Child
Figure you don't have to worry about your child's oral health until they develop permanent teeth? Think
again!
Here are some tips to start your child on the road to a lifetime of healthy well being:
A healthy pregnancy:
A child's teeth begin to form during the fifth week of pregnancy, so dental care should begin as early as
possible. The unborn baby's vitamins and minerals come from the mother's food, so expectant mothers
can ensure healthy baby teeth by eating a healthy diet.
Start cleaning teeth early:
As the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with a clean, damp cloth every day. When more
teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush.
Begin using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is two years old. Use toothpaste with fluoride
earlier if your child's doctor or pediatric dentist recommends it.
Supervise brushing:
Brush your child's teeth twice a day until your child has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone.
Then,continue to closely watch brushing to make sure your child is doing a thorough job and using only
a small amount of toothpaste.
Avoid baby bottle syndrome:
A bottle can comfort your baby or help him or her fall asleep - but it also can harm his or her teeth.
Baby bottle tooth decay is caused when the child's teeth are frequently exposed to sugary liquids for
long periods. They often fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth and the liquid may pool around their
teeth. Acids formed by the juice or milk can attack the tooth enamel and may cause irreparable damage
to the baby's teeth.
Fluoride helps:
Children who drink fluoridated water from birth have up to 65 percent fewer cavities. Check with your
doctor or dentists about your child's specific fluoride needs. After age two, most children get the right
amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their
teeth with a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Parents of children over the age of six
months should ask about the need for a fluoride supplement if drinking water does not have enough
fluoride. Do not let a child younger than six years use a fluoride mouth rinse unless the child's doctor or
pediatric dentist recommends it.
Give your child a healthy diet:
Make sure your child drinks plenty of milk and eats other calcium-rich foods, such as yogurt and cheese.
Discourage snacks that are high in sugar or starch or sticky foods.
Preventive care:
Regular at-home brushing and flossing after every meal can keep dental problems to a minimum. From
age two, children should begin to brush their own teeth with a parent's help. After age eight, children
can brush and floss alone. Sealants can help prevent tooth decay in children under age 15.
Visit your pediatric dentist by your child's first birthday:
This may seem early, but your pediatric dentist can review cleaning techniques and look for problems
with your child's primary teeth. Avoid using phrases such as "It won't hurt," or "Be brave". Instead,
help your child be comfortable and unafraid of dental checkups.
Figure you don't have to worry about your child's oral health until they develop permanent teeth? Think
again!
Here are some tips to start your child on the road to a lifetime of healthy well being:
A healthy pregnancy:
A child's teeth begin to form during the fifth week of pregnancy, so dental care should begin as early as
possible. The unborn baby's vitamins and minerals come from the mother's food, so expectant mothers
can ensure healthy baby teeth by eating a healthy diet.
Start cleaning teeth early:
As the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with a clean, damp cloth every day. When more
teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush.
Begin using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is two years old. Use toothpaste with fluoride
earlier if your child's doctor or pediatric dentist recommends it.
Supervise brushing:
Brush your child's teeth twice a day until your child has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone.
Then,continue to closely watch brushing to make sure your child is doing a thorough job and using only
a small amount of toothpaste.
Avoid baby bottle syndrome:
A bottle can comfort your baby or help him or her fall asleep - but it also can harm his or her teeth.
Baby bottle tooth decay is caused when the child's teeth are frequently exposed to sugary liquids for
long periods. They often fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth and the liquid may pool around their
teeth. Acids formed by the juice or milk can attack the tooth enamel and may cause irreparable damage
to the baby's teeth.
Fluoride helps:
Children who drink fluoridated water from birth have up to 65 percent fewer cavities. Check with your
doctor or dentists about your child's specific fluoride needs. After age two, most children get the right
amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their
teeth with a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Parents of children over the age of six
months should ask about the need for a fluoride supplement if drinking water does not have enough
fluoride. Do not let a child younger than six years use a fluoride mouth rinse unless the child's doctor or
pediatric dentist recommends it.
Give your child a healthy diet:
Make sure your child drinks plenty of milk and eats other calcium-rich foods, such as yogurt and cheese.
Discourage snacks that are high in sugar or starch or sticky foods.
Preventive care:
Regular at-home brushing and flossing after every meal can keep dental problems to a minimum. From
age two, children should begin to brush their own teeth with a parent's help. After age eight, children
can brush and floss alone. Sealants can help prevent tooth decay in children under age 15.
Visit your pediatric dentist by your child's first birthday:
This may seem early, but your pediatric dentist can review cleaning techniques and look for problems
with your child's primary teeth. Avoid using phrases such as "It won't hurt," or "Be brave". Instead,
help your child be comfortable and unafraid of dental checkups.
| Send comments about this website to webmaster@pediatricdenticare.com |
| © 2008 pediatric denticare, p.c. |