|
| The American
Dental Association recommends that your child’s first visit to the
dentist take place by the first birthday. At this visit, the dentist will
explain proper brushing and flossing techniques (you need to floss once
your baby has two teeth that touch) and conduct a modified exam while
your baby sits on your lap. Such visits can help in the early detection
of potential problems, and help kids become accustomed to visiting the
dentist so they’ll have less fear about going as they grow older.
When your entire child’s primary teeth have come in (usually around
age 2 ½) your dentist may start applying topical fluoride. Fluoride
hardens the tooth enamel, helping to ward off the most common childhood
oral disease, dental caries, or cavities. Cavities are caused by bacteria
and food that are left on the teeth after eating. When these are not brushed
away, acid collects on a tooth, softening its enamel until a hole or cavity
forms. Regular use of fluoride toughens the enamel, making it more difficult
for acid to penetrate.
Although many municipalities require water
to be fluoridated, other communities have no such regulations. If the
water supply is not fluoridated, or if your family uses purified water,
ask your dentist for fluoride supplements. Even though most toothpaste
contains fluoride, toothpaste alone will not fully protect a child’s
mouth. Be careful, however, since too much fluoride can cause tooth discoloration.
Check with your dentist before supplementing.
Discoloration can also occur as a result
of prolonged use of antibiotics, as some children’s medications
contain a large amount of sugar. Parents should encourage children to
brush after they take their medicine, particularly if the prescription
will be long term.
Brushing at least twice a day and routine flossing will help maintain
a healthy mouth. Children as young as age 2 or 3 can begin to use toothpaste
when brushing, as long as they are supervised. Children 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.
As your child’s permanent teeth grow
in, the dentist can help seal out decay by applying a thin wash of resin
to the back teeth, where most chewing occurs. Know as a sealant, this
protective coating keeps bacteria from settling in the hard to reach crevices
of the mouth.
Although dental research has resulted in
increasingly sophisticated preventative techniques, including fillings
and sealants that seep fluoride, a dentist’s care is only part of
the equation. Follow up at home plays an equally important role. For example,
sealants on the teeth do not mean that a child can eat sweets uncontrollably
or slack off on the daily brushing and flossing, parents must work with
children to teach good oral health habits.
| |
