Your Child's Teeth
Looking over some of the topics I've covered these last few months and I find myself surprised I haven't touched upon an area that affects all of our children on a daily basis...protecting our children's teeth. I was actually stunned when I initially discovered dental caries are 5 times more prevalent than asthma and 7 times more prevalent than hay fever in our children. Furthermore, more than 40% of children have some type of tooth decay by the time they are in kindergarten. And the consequences of untreated dental decay can cause a multitude of issues...ranging from poor growth to poor speech to potentially life-threatening illness and disease.
Why this problem occurs is both sad and yet, quite straight-forward. Some don't have access to care (believe it or not, my health insurance does not cover dental care for me nor my family). Some are unaware or don't have accessibility to fluoridated water and/or dental sealants. And some just don't know how important it is to maintain good oral hygiene.
So with the goal of ultimately providing the best care of your child's teeth, I've answered a few of the more common questions I receive from parents:
At what age can I start doing something for my child? Actually, at quite an early age. Even after just a few months of age, a clean warm cloth can be used along the gums of an infant's mouth...even if no teeth are present. Think of it as kind of an initiation process to the whole oral hygiene process.
What about fluoride and when should I start this? Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth resistant to the acidity produced by plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. I will begin with fluoridated water (optimal levels ranging from 0.7-1.2 parts per million) at 6 months of age. It, therefore, becomes very important to ensure your water supply...tap water, filtered tap water, or bottled water reaches this level. And yes, you can have too much fluoride...something called fluorosis...often leading to brown or white spots on adult teeth.
What type of toothpaste should I use? Before 12 months of age, just water and a toothbrush is fine with me. Then I recommend a fluoride-free toothpaste until I feel the child is able to spit the toothpaste out. Usually this occurs after 24 months of age but by 30-36 months of age, even if not able to spit it out completely, I usually say it's time to move on to fluoridated toothpaste...but only a minimal amount..no more than a pea-size. And remember to brush two times a day...after breakfast and before bed.
At what age should my child see a dentist? There seems to be some debate surrounding this. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), a first dental visit should occur when the first tooth comes in...which usually means 6-12 months of age. Most pediatric dentists I know prefer to see children between 12-24 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has said, until recently, by 36 months of age, although there is some new pediatric literature acknowledging the AAPD recommendations.
And other good tips/reminders for parents?
- Limit the juice as much as possible
- Flossing can begin when 2 teeth are touching each other.
- No bottle in bed and best to transition off the bottle by 12-15 months of age.
So even if you haven't taken the greatest care of your own teeth over the years, please do your best with your children. I guarantee you one day they will thank you for doing so.
And one last thing...for those of you in the U.S. who are registered to vote, please don't forget to get out there this Tuesday. It's your right and an honor to do so.
Dr. Jeremy
Categories: Tips, Personal Opinion, Overview
Support Groups: ADHD / ADD, Adoption, Autism / Autism Spectrum, Child Support & Custody, Children Of Divorced Parents, Family Issues, Foster Care, Gay Parenting, Grandparents Raising Children, Homeschooling, Immunizations, Interfaith Relationships, Interracial Relationships, Military Families, Motherless Children, Parenting 'Tweens (9-12), Parenting Big Kids (5-8), Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1), Parenting Preschoolers (3-5), Parenting Teenagers (12-18), Parenting Toddlers (1-3), Parents of Children with ADHD, Single Dads, Single Parenting, Twins, Triplets & More
7
Thanks Dr. J. This last month has been dental month for our house. My 10 year old has had fillings made on baby teeth since they will still service him another 2 years before his permanent teeth grow in. He had sealents put on the molars, but there is still the chance of decay near the gumline. My little guy is on the spectrum, so a dentist visit is not very easy. He goes to the children's hospital pediatric dentist and needs to be strapped into a retaining board. He needed to have sedation to fix a cavity, and brushing is next to impossible. This last checkup, he was great, no cavities. The only problem is the dental insurance will not cover the additional expense to service autism, as usual. I feel bad for folks who are not near a special needs dentist. It was impossible for him to be examined at the pediatric dentist, but she billed just the same. Good advice, take your kid to the dentist and make it a fun adventure!
By Olismom November 22, 2008 8:45am
6
Great information.
By ellaallison November 17, 2008 2:08am
5
Taking care of our teeth is very important. This is another personal hygiene that must be done routinely. Every Halloween season, candies, chocolates and other sweet foods are always present. Most parents are probably relieved that Halloween is over. It’s a fun time for children and families, but it can also be kind of hectic. Just because the holiday is over, doesn’t mean you won’t be dealing with Halloween costs in the future. A recent CNN.com story reminds us that Halloween is a scary time for tiny teeth. The amount of candy a child eats on Halloween can greatly affect the health of his or her teeth. There are preventative measures parents and kids can take to prevent tooth decay, but not every tiny tooth will be so lucky as to escape the scariest Halloween monster of all—a cavity. So don’t be surprised if your child’s next routine check-up at the dentist turns into extra appointments to fill cavities. And aside from this, don’t be surprised if the cost is quite expensive. Maybe you’re ready and able to pay for the next dentist bill, but if you’re not quite prepared for the frightening costs of filling cavities, installment loans can help you until you get your next paycheck.
Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store
Professional Blogging Team
Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406
Home: http://personalmoneystore.com/NoFa...
Blog: http://personalmoneystore.com/mone...
By Davidjohnston November 6, 2008 12:10am
4
My pediatrician never discussed tooth decay or development when my daughter was an infant. She nursed for four years and somewhere along the way you'd think the subject of teeth would have come up. I'm sorry that it took me so long to research the subject via internet. My daughter is 12 now and has had a few cavities and a tooth that wouldn't descend like it should have which probably will require braces. Braces now are anywhere from $3500-$6000. I was shocked to hear that and wonder how I'd ever be able to afford them for her, even with the $1000 down and month payments. I just wish I had been more educated about baby and children's teeth as part of a well-baby checkup.
By Cybercatxq November 4, 2008 2:29pm
3
Also children ~4+ years old can be taught how to brush their teeth. Simple fluoride containing toothpaste with a fluoride containing rinse for at least 2 minutes is sufficient enough as well as flossing. Children should brush and floss their teeth after every meal. Generally, that means morning, noon and night.
The other issue is thumbsucking, finger sucking or tongue sucking and nail biting. Children love to put their hands everywhere, then put their fingers in their mouths. It can lead to ingestion of microbes that might influence the damage of teeth. It definitely increases the risk for illness and infection, but there research is unclear with those habits. Speak to your dentist for assistance to change that behavior.
Lastly, the new xylitol containing products have shown promise in clinical trials. Ask your dentist for more information regard this additive to your dental care products.
Regards,
Dr. G M.-S.
Research Scientist
Dental Assistant
By AKAMonet November 3, 2008 8:05pm
2
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION!!!
By Theresa42266 November 3, 2008 1:02pm
1
Brushing at least twice a day and routine flossing will help maintain a healthy mouth. Kids as young as age 2 or 3 can begin to use toothpaste when brushing, as long as they are supervised. Kids should not ingest large amounts of toothpaste a pea sized amount for toddlers is just right. Parents should always make sure the child spits the toothpaste out instead of swallowing.
---------------
Aiyna
Drug Rehab
By aiyna November 3, 2008 2:05am