Wisdom FOR TEETH
February is National Children’s Oral Health Month — here are some tips for getting more out of molars
Good oral health should start early, usually before a child’s first tooth erupts, between six and nine months of age.
Babies need fluoride by the time they are six months old to help strengthen their teeth — even before they are visible above the gumline.
A great source of fluoride is through fluoridated drinking water. Many cities began adding fluoride to drinking water as early as the 1940s as an effective public health measure to prevent cavities (also known as dental caries or tooth decay).
While there is naturally-occurring fluoride in Albuquerque’s drinking water, there is not enough; there should be 0.7 milligrams per liter to provide adequate protection. Albuquerque began adding fluoride to its water supply in 1972 but halted the practice from 2011 until 2018 while recommended fluoridation levels were being reassessed.
For households using well water, bottled water with no added fluoride, or a reverse osmosis water filtration system, fluoride should be given as an oral supplement or through fluoridated toothpaste.
While babies receive the majority of their fluid intake through breast milk or formula, they may also be given four to eight ounces of fluoridated water daily starting at six months.
Dental caries are a common chronic disease of childhood and up to 20% of children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated cavity. These can be painful, impact the ability to eat or drink, affect speech, cause infections and can have negative consequences with regard to playing and learning. Older kids may have issues with low self-esteem due to the health of their teeth.
Kids who suffer from poor dental health have lower grades and miss more school than kids with healthy mouths. Some cavities may be easily treated at the dentist’s office, while others may require a child to receive general anesthesia at a hospital in order to rehabilitate their teeth.
The best treatment for cavities is to prevent them from occurring.
Brushing teeth is essential in cavity prevention. When baby teeth start erupting, it is time to start brushing.
Use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush to clean teeth twice per day, after breakfast and at bedtime. Start with a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, for kids younger than three. For kids aged three to six years, use a pea-sized amount.
Teach them to spit out the toothpaste before rinsing to prevent it from being swallowed. Don’t worry if they swallow toothpaste as they cannot get fluoride poisoning from this. They would have to ingest large amounts of prescriptionstrength fluoridated toothpaste to get fluoride poisoning.
A fluoride varnish is now routinely applied by children’s dentists at their regular dental checkups and may be able to be applied by their pediatrician, as well. It is recommended for children to start seeing a dentist twice per year when they are 12 months old, or sooner if there are any concerns raised by their parent or medical provider.
Parents should help with tooth brushing until a child is able to effectively brush all of their teeth for two minutes per session; this usually occurs around seven or eight years of age.
Younger kids may be more amenable to a parent brushing their teeth if they may also have a turn or can brush their parent’s teeth while having their own teeth brushed.
Never allow kids to walk around while brushing their teeth or holding a toothbrush in their mouth as this could cause a significant injury if they trip or fall down.
Flossing is also an important part of good oral hygiene as it can remove cavity-causing plaque from between the teeth and below the gumline.
Start flossing your child’s teeth when the teeth begin to touch, usually around age two to three.
Certain situations put kids at greater risk of getting cavities. Some medications, such as those used to treat seizures and allergies, may decrease the amount of saliva a child produces (saliva is important in maintaining a healthy mouth environment).
Sipping beverages that contain sugar throughout the day, such as milk and juice, can lead to cavities. Kids should mainly drink water and milk, and sippy cups should only be used for water. Bottle use after 12 months contributes to cavity formation, and a baby should never go to bed with a bottle propped in his or her mouth.
Eating a healthy diet, using fluoride, brushing teeth, and seeing the dentist can ensure that you and your child have a beautiful and healthy smile!