Hygiene (Teeth 101)
- Starting at birth, clean your child's gums with a soft cloth and water.
- As soon as your child's teeth erupt, brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Most children are unable to brush their teeth adequately until 8 years of age.
- If they are under the age of 2, use a small "smear" of toothpaste.
- If they're 2-5 years old, use a "pea-size" amount of toothpaste.
- Be sure and use an American Dental Association -accepted fluoride toothpaste and make sure your child does not swallow it. The mechanical act of brushing is more important than toothpaste.
- When brushing:
- Angle the toothbrush, using both up-and-down strokes and circular strokes.
- Begin with the front, outer surface of the teeth, moving backwards along the molars.
- Repeat for the inside surface of the teeth, making sure to get both top and bottom.
- Brush the chewing surface or top of molars, then brush on the surface of the tongue.
- Finish by rinsing out the mouth with water.
- Make sure to brush at least twice daily!
- Flossing removes plaque between teeth and under the gumline where a toothbrush can't reach. It’s an essential part of maintaining dental hygiene, and should not be neglected. We recommend flossing every day.
- Flossing should begin when any two teeth touch. It’s best to floss before brushing, as that allows the fluoride within the toothpaste to reach areas where plaque was just removed.
- When flossing:
- Loop the floss around your finger, pulling tightly. It’s easier to use a longer section of floss, rather than a shorter section. This gives more opportunity for adjustment and reach, as well as providing more clean, flossing surface space.
- Start on one side of the mouth, pulling the floss gently down and across the teeth, moving both back-and-forth and up-and-down. Use a rotating motion when necessary to clean curved surfaces.
- Make sure to get between each tooth, moving from one side of the mouth to the other.
Good oral hygiene removes bacteria and the leftover food particles that combine to create cavities. A combination of practices is needed to provide the best opportunity for healthy teeth to thrive.
- At home, practice good habits such as brushing at least twice a day with fluoride, and flossing daily.
- Minimize sugary or acidic foods and drinks that eat away at the enamel or spark quicker bacteria growth.
- The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends visits every six months to the pediatric dentist, beginning at your child’s first birthday.
- Your pediatric dentist may also recommend protective sealants or home fluoride treatments for your child. Sealants can be applied to your child’s molars to prevent decay on hard to clean surfaces.
Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and the soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups.
Most snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation. The more frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance for tooth decay. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, hard candy and breath mints stay in the mouth a long time, which cause longer acid attacks on tooth enamel. If your child must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese, which are healthier and better for children’s teeth.
Due to the high sugar content and acids in sports drinks and carbonated beverages, they have erosive potential and the ability to dissolve even fluoride-rich enamel, which can lead to cavities.
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring element, which has shown to prevent tooth decay by as much as 50-70%. Despite the advantages, too little or too much fluoride can be detrimental to the teeth. With little or no fluoride, the teeth aren’t strengthened to help them resist cavities. On the other hand, excessive fluoride ingestion by young children can lead to dental fluorosis, which is typically a chalky white discoloration (brown in advanced cases) of the permanent teeth.
You can help by using a fluoride toothpaste and only a smear of toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice) to brush the teeth of a child less than 3 years of age. For children 3 to 6 years old, use a "pea-size" amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child’s toothbrushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively on their own. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing, in order to avoid fluorosis.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes the benefits of xylitol on the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and persons with special health care needs.
The use of XYLITOL GUM by mothers (2-3 times per day) starting 3 months after delivery and until the child was 2 years old, has proven to reduce cavities up to 70% by the time the child was 5 years old.
Studies using xylitol as either a sugar substitute or a small dietary addition have demonstrated a dramatic reduction in new tooth decay, along with some reversal of existing dental caries. Xylitol provides additional protection that enhances all existing prevention methods. This xylitol effect is long-lasting and possibly permanent. Low decay rates persist even years after the trials have been completed.
Xylitol is widely distributed throughout nature in small amounts. Some of the best sources are fruits, berries, mushrooms, lettuce, hardwoods, and corn cobs. One cup of raspberries contains less than one gram of xylitol.
Studies suggest xylitol intake that consistently produces positive results ranging from 4-20 grams per day, divided into 3-7 consumption periods. Higher results did not result in greater reduction and may lead to diminishing results. Similarly, consumption frequency of less than 3 times per day showed no effect.
To find gum or other products containing xylitol, try visiting your local health food store or search the Internet to find products containing 100% xylitol.
Laura Vaughn DDS is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, located in Topeka, KS.
“Every day I am energized by bright eyes and little smiles. I find joy in helping children develop big futures through a positive visit to the dentist’s office.”
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