How To Prevent Tooth Decay In Children
on Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Gresham Family Dentistry Keeps Your Family Smiling And Healthy
Gresham parents looking for family dentistry services need to look no further than Gresham Family Dentistry. We offer the best in family dentistry services in Gresham to keep children smiling and healthy. As part of our family dentistry services, Gresham Family Dentistry helps Gresham parents to be prepared to take care of their children’s teeth at home.
Tips For Preventing Tooth Decay
It’s important for parents to be able to recognize the signs of dental health issues in their kids, such as a cavity, but even more important is to help your children practice good oral health to prevent cavities and other issues. As part of our family dentistry services, Gresham Family Dentistry aims to help parents learn how to spot dental issues and how to prevent them. One of the most important things to prevent in children is tooth decay, which leads to cavities.
Don’t Wait To Visit The Dentist
Most kids (and adults) need a dental checkup and cleaning every six months, and they should start early: The AAPD, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Dental Association (ADA) all recommend taking your child to the dentist by his first birthday. This is the number-one way to prevent tooth decay. Taking your child in for their first round of family dentistry services at Gresham Family Dentistry begins to build an ongoing relationship between the dentist and your family and gives the dentist an opportunity to guide Gresham parents on healthy dental habits and cavity prevention. Regular checkups also keep early decay from turning into deep, painful cavities that require complicated procedures to treat.
Avoid Sharing Spoons
Even before teeth emerge, cavity-causing bacteria called streptococcus mutans can colonize the furrows of a baby’s tongue—and saliva-sharing behaviors, like cleaning a pacifier with your mouth or using the same utensils, can spread the bacteria from your mouth to your child’s. Gently wiping your child’s gums with gauze or a soft washcloth after feedings can help remove bacteria, plus get them accustomed to having your finger—and later a toothbrush—in his mouth.
Use The Right Toothpaste
ADA guidelines now recommend that parents use fluoride toothpaste as soon as a baby gets his first tooth. Fluoride toothpaste can help remineralize areas of teeth that have been made weaker and susceptible to decay by bacterial acids. Gresham Family Dentistry recommends giving kids ages 3 and under a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice, then graduating to a pea-sized dollop for kids ages 4 to 6. Also, children’s toothpaste has the same amount of fluoride—about 900 parts per million—as the adult kind, but the fun flavors and colors mean kids will be more likely to stick with a brushing routine.
Give Plaque The Brush-Off
Once your child gets his first tooth, brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice daily for 2 minutes or as needed, with the goal of removing plaque from each tooth. Gresham parents should be in charge of brushing—meaning doing the actual brushing—until at least age 6. Flossing is also necessary to reach the spaces between teeth and should be done as soon as your child has two teeth touching each other.
Snack Smart
Bacteria feed on sugar and produce acid waste, which erodes the tooth to create a cavity—so one of the best ways to keep your child’s teeth healthy is to limit his intake of sugary foods and drinks. The frequency of snacking matters, too: Grazing all day creates a constant supply of sugar and acid in the mouth, so limit sugary snacks and drinks to mealtimes and brushing soon after eating. Crunchy fresh fruits and veggies like apples, carrots, and celery are better options because they help scrub plaque from teeth as you eat.
Get All The Best Family Dentistry Services and Advice at Gresham Family Dentistry
Be proactive about your oral health — schedule an appointment today for an oral checkup for your baby with Gresham Family Dentistry. At Gresham Family Dentistry, our priority is your comfort. We provide quality dental services for the entire family including sedation dentistry, children’s dentistry, oral surgery, dental cleanings, and more!
Our hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM and Thursday 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
To schedule a visit, contact us or call 503-661-2600.
