Caring for chidlren’s teeth

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amanda Depasquale
  • 341st Medical Group Dental Flight
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Tooth decay and other oral diseases that can affect children are preventable. The combination of brushing, flossing, dental sealants and fluoride has the potential to nearly eliminate tooth decay in school-age children.

An infant's teeth begin growing before he or she is even born (in the second trimester of pregnancy). By birth, babies have about 20 teeth, but they don't appear until the baby starts teething, which usually begins sometime after they are 3 months old.

Never allow a baby to drink a bottle of juice or milk while lying down to go to sleep. They can be given a bottle with water. Refrain from giving a baby soda. Juice, milk and soda may contribute to tooth decay, especially if the liquid is just sitting in the mouth. Over time, a baby could develop a case of "baby bottle rot."

The best way to clean a baby's mouth that is teething is to run a damp washcloth over their teeth after eating. Once a tooth comes in, use a soft infant toothbrush - but only use fluoride free toothpaste to brush. Children should brush their teeth twice a day with parental assistance. They can use a soft bristled brush with a pea size amount of toothpaste.

As soon as a baby has erupted teeth, parents should bring them to a pediatric dentist for an exam. For toddlers and preschoolers, once the child has his or her baby teeth, make sure he or she is keeping those teeth healthy and clean. If cavities develop, children can lose their baby teeth before their grown-up teeth come in and this can cause problems with tooth spacing. Children should eat nutritious foods without a lot of sugar in them. It's also a good idea for children to avoid sticky foods.

Flossing for children should begin as soon as two teeth touch each other. Flossing helps prevent cavities by removing plaque and food particles caught between teeth that the tooth brush cannot reach. A child should be able to floss their own teeth by the time they are 9 years old.

To floss younger children's teeth, place them in your lap facing you. The technique is the same, no matter who is doing it.

To floss a child's teeth: Take dental floss and wrap one end around each of the middle fingers and gently slide the floss between two teeth. Once at the gum line, pull both ends of the floss in the same direction to form a C shape against one tooth. Pull the floss tightly and move it up and down gently against one tooth. Pull the floss against the other tooth and repeat the motion.

In order to have a good set of permanent teeth, it is important to have healthy, cavity-free baby teeth. This can be accomplished by following the simple steps listed above.
Caring for a child's teeth will help ensure a healthy and successful oral status. Practicing good, healthy habits at a young age will pay huge dividends later on in life.