Healthy Teeth
Cavities are the most common chronic infectious disease in U.S. children!
This preventable health problem begins early:
- about 20% of 2-4 year olds;
- 50% of 8 year olds; and
- 80% of 17 year olds have had tooth decay.
If children get cavities in their baby teeth, the infection almost always passes to their permanent teeth.
Early care of your children’s teeth will protect their smile and their health.
You can help prevent cavities in your children’s teeth!
Mom and Dad, your own oral health matters
One of the biggest risks for early tooth decay in your baby’s teeth is the presence of dental cavities in your own mouth. That’s because tooth decay is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted from you to your baby. Everyone in the family should keep their teeth clean (brush twice a day and floss daily) to reduce bacteria levels.
Sugar feeds the bacteria that cause tooth decay
Type of foods : Sugary foods cause more problems. Most of us know that candy and soda are bad for our teeth. However, even sports drinks, fruit juice (including diluted fruit juice), and milk contain sugar that cavity-causing bacteria use. Another common form of sugar that we often don’t think about is starch: the white flour that is not only in junk foods (crackers, chips, cookies, etc), but also in cereal, granola bars, potatoes, pasta, and breads. Another sugar source is children’s liquid medications.
Consistency of foods : sticky foods ( fruit treats, fruit roll-ups, raisins, etc) do not easily wash off the teeth by the action of saliva and chewing, and thus eating sticky food increases the risk of cavities.
Frequency of eating : Every time we eat, snack or drink anything with calories, we feed cavity-causing bacteria.
- Have set meal and snack times : Don’t let your toddler or child graze or snack all day.
- Drink only water between meals and snacks : Remember that juice (even watered-down juice) and milk have sugar that can rot teeth just as easily as soda if sipped between meals (whether from a bottle, sippy cup or regular cup!)
- Bottle fed babies should never sleep with their bottles of formula, milk or juice. Even a nursing baby or toddler who sleeps with Mom and nurses off and on during the night has a higher risk of cavities.
The tooth-brushing habit starts with the very first tooth!
Start cleaning teeth early : As soon as the first tooth appears, begin wiping baby’s gums and teeth several times a day, especially after feedings. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush.
Brush your child’s teeth at least twice a day. The most important time is before bedtime.
Supervise brushing . Encourage your toddlers to brush their own teeth as soon as they can hold a toothbrush, but you should be there to supervise and complete the brushing. Children cannot adequately brush their own teeth until they can write their name in cursive letters (usually not until 6 or 7 years old!)
Flossing of teeth is also important. Ask your dentist when your child should start flossing.
Use the right amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Begin using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with fluoride when your child is able to spit the toothpaste out and rinse well. This is usually around 3 years old.
Look closely and often at your baby’s teeth
The first sign of a cavity is a white spot. These spots often start on the upper front teeth at the gum line. To look for these spots, lay your baby in your lap and lift their upper lip using your fingers. If you don’t take care of your baby’s first teeth, your child may wind up with a lifelong struggle with tooth decay.
Fluoride
Fluoride is an element that is used in your teeth to strengthen the enamel. Fluoride helps make teeth more resistant to decay and thus less likely to develop cavities. However, too much fluoride can cause fluorosis (subtle white streaks or lines on teeth).
Children should begin drinking fluoridated water or begin taking a fluoride supplement when they turn 6 months and continue until they are 16 years old. Children should begin using fluoridated toothpaste when they can spit after brushing and rinse their mouths. This is usually around the age of 3. Use only a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea) on the toothbrush. Fluoride mouth rinses should not be used in a child under 6 years old unless recommended by a dentist.
The fluoride content in Northeastern Nevada water varies depending on where you live. Ask your city’s water department if they add fluoride to your water and, if so, in how many ppm (parts per million).
If you are on a well, you may want to have your water tested. In Nevada , the State Lab in Reno will perform Fluoride (Fl) analysis for $15.00. You can contact them at (775) 688-1335, then “0”.
If you prefer using bottled water, you can purchase fluoridated bottled water. It is usually priced the same as non-fluoridated water.
Depending on your water’s fluoride content, you may need to use a daily fluoride supplement which requires a prescription from your doctor or dentist:
Recommended Fluoride Supplement
(Depends on the Fluoride Content of your Drinking Water)
Age |
<0.3 ppm* |
0.3 – 0.6 ppm* |
>0.6 ppm* |
Birth – 6 mos. |
None |
None |
None |
6 mos – 3 yrs. |
0.25 mg/day |
None |
None |
3 – 6 yrs. |
0.50 mg/day |
0.25 mg/day |
None |
6 – 16 yrs. |
1.0 mg/day |
0.50 mg/day |
None |
*Fluoride ion level in ppm (parts per million)
**Notice that babies from birth to 6 months should not receive fluoride supplements or drink fluoridated water.
Do not use fluoridated water to mix your baby’s formula until after the age of 6 months.
Begin seeing a dentist at age 1
Babies need a “dental home” after their first birthday, or even sooner if there’s a problem. The dentist can help you make sure your baby doesn’t get early childhood tooth decay. It’s a whole lot easier to prevent tooth decay than it is to treat it.
Trauma
Make sure your child wears a helmet when bicycling and uses protective headgear and mouth guards in other sports activities.
Genetics
Some people do have “weaker” teeth and are more prone to cavities. This should not be used as an excuse; rather it should be an incentive to more compulsive dental care.
Click here for additional website links about dental care.
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