February is the National Children's Dental Health Month. In honor of this observance, experts advise parents to guide their children on how to take care and protect their teeth.
Practicing healthy dental habits can prevent your children from acquiring dental cavities as having healthy teeth can make your children smile to the fullest and have proper speech. It can also help in digestion of foods.
The experts said that the best health habits start with parents. "Tooth decay can develop as soon as the first tooth appears, but even before then, parents should be wiping their baby's gums with a clean gauze pad or washcloth after each feeding," Dr. Kyra Schirk of the CHI St. Joseph Children's Health Dental Center in Columbia, Pa. She further added, "Healthy gums are the start of healthy teeth."
The York Daily Record and Web MD share the following tips that promote healthy dental habits for your children:
1. Gently Clean your Baby's Mouth
Start cleaning the mouth of your baby in the first few days after birth by wiping his gums with clean, moist washcloth or gauze pad.
2. Brush as soon the First Tooth Appears
The decay occurs as soon as the tooth appears. Some babies have their front four teeth at about 6 months of age and some children have them until they are 12 or 14 months.
For children with age 3 years old and below, parents must brush their children's teeth using a fluoride toothpaste with just an amount of not over a smear. They must brush their teeth twice a day, in the morning and at night.
For children 3 to 6 years of age, they must brush their teeth in the morning and at night with just a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Parents must supervise their children's brushing and remind them not to gulp the toothpaste and the water they used for gargle.
3. First Dental Visit
When the first tooth of your baby appears, go to a dentist for a check-up. The ADA advises parents to have the first dental visit within six months once the first tooth appeared or no later than his first birthday.
If in case your child is over a year old, you can talk to him why you are visiting a dentist. Make him comfortable on his first dental visit.
During the first visit, your dentist will inspect for cavities, oral injuries and other problems. The dentist will also let you know if your child has a risk of having tooth decay. He will also clean your child's teeth, advise you on teeth's daily care and discuss any treatment if needed and schedule for the next visit.
4. Start Flossing
When two of your baby's teeth touch together, you may begin flossing. For older children, if they can brush on their own and their teeth touch, you should start flossing their teeth every day. Ask the dentist for techniques and schedules.
5. Prevent Baby Bottle Decay
Don't let the bottle of milk or fruit juice stay in the mouth of your baby or older children. This may cause tooth decay. It is advisable that you give a bottle of water to your children when he goes to bed.
6. Limit Intake of Juice
Fruit juice contains lots of sugar. It is recommended to limit the intake of fruit juice as advised by doctors.
7. Be Aware of Their Fluoride Needs
Fluoride is a mineral that appears in water sources such as lakes, rivers and oceans. It is also added to community tap water, mouth rinses and toothpaste. If your children do not receive a sufficient amount of fluoride, they would be at risk for tooth decay. Ask your dentist about your children's fluoride needs. He might suggest a fluoride supplement and give you also some extra fluoride. Most older children use the extra fluoride.
8. Monitor your Child's Brushing Until Age Eight
Proper brushing of teeth must be formed in your children. You need to monitor and supervise your children on how and when they brush their teeth until the reach the age eight.
9. Have Regular Check-Up
Visit the dentist at least twice a year for regular check-ups and cleaning. This can supervise the oral health of your children as they grow up.
All these and more promote good oral hygiene that your children should always bear in mind... from being an infant and a toddler to being adults.
