“They’re just baby teeth and will eventually fall out. Why do we even have to worry about them?” I often get asked this question at check-ups and never feel like I can stress enough how important it is to take good care of those baby teeth.
Did you know that tooth decay in young children is THE most common chronic disease of early childhood? If left untreated tooth decay in children can lead to:
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Pain,
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Life threatening infections,
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Difficulty chewing,
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Malnutrition,
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Trouble focusing in school,
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Crooked adult teeth, and
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Low self-esteem.
The good news is that most tooth decay and cavities are preventable! What are cavities?
Cavities are holes in our teeth. They occur when three things mix together: bacteria, sugar (from the food that we eat) and teeth. If we don’t brush and floss regularly the bacteria and sugar build up and form a sticky substance called plaque. The bacteria gets nice and comfy in that plaque and turns the food that we eat into acid. Over time this acid wears down our teeth and a cavity (a hole!) grows.
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| Source: American Dental Association |
Yikes! How can we prevent cavities?
Brush, floss, brush, floss, brush…you get the idea J Brushing your child’s teeth (and yours!) twice each day using a toothpaste with fluoride is the best way to prevent cavities.
When should I start brushing my child’s teeth?
As soon as the first baby tooth erupts! Fluoride is important for baby teeth because it makes the enamel stronger and more resistant to decay. For children younger than three years old you will want to start out using a smear of fluoridated toothpaste, no bigger than a grain of rice. This small amount has been shown to be safe for children. Once your child can spit the toothpaste out, usually around age three, you can start using a pea-sized amount.
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| Source: American Dental Association |
My child grazes on snacks all day, how can I keep his chompers clean?
Offer your child meals and snacks that are low in sugar (carbohydrates). The bacteria in our mouths love sugar and turn it into acid that eats holes in our teeth. The more time sugar is on your child’s teeth, the more likely they are to get a cavity. This is good to know because HOW children eat can be just as important to their teeth as WHAT they eat. Children who graze on snacks throughout the day, or fall asleep with a cup of juice or milk at night, have their teeth swimming in sugars all the time. Here are some tips to curb the carbs:
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Opt for protein rich snacks like cheese, nuts
and fresh vegetables.
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Don’t offer snacks after brushing at night.
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If your child is thirsty in between meals or
during the night give them plain water.
What else can I do to protect my child’s pearly whites?
Visit a pediatric dentist! It is recommended to see a pediatric dentist within six months of the first tooth coming in, and no later than age one. Just as you would take your child to well child check-ups, it is important to take him or her to the dentist before a problem develops. This will create positive experiences at the dentist and a foundation of good oral health. Remember, they are not “just baby teeth” they are the building blocks for a lifetime of healthy teeth.
Dr. Christopher Goodell
Lakeshore Pediatric Dentistry
