Don’t be blasé about your child’s teeth.
Preventative care begins even before the first tooth erupts!

This year, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentisty (AAPD) is pairing up with the Ad Council to launch a program to teach the importance of oral health in children ages 2 - 5. Why? There’s been an upsurge in tooth decay in this age group. The AAPD says parents need to bring their youngsters in for pediatric dental care early for long-term healthy teeth. Here’s your game plan:

BEFORE TEETH COME IN
Wipe your baby’s gums with a damp cloth or infant cloths to remove damaging bacteria that can harm the teeth developing under the gums.

WHEN BABY TEETH ARE PRESENT
Brush twice a day, morning and night with a soft toddler brush and a pea-sized drop of non-fluoridated toothpaste.

INTRODUCE FLOSSING
Just make it a part of the routine early on and it won’t be foreign to your child as he grows. One tooth or a mouthful, floss whenever you brush your child’s teeth for the best results.

NO BEDTIME BOTTLES
Never put your baby to bed with a bottle no matter how that conveniences you. Serious decay can develop known as “bottle mouth.”

BRUSH AND MAKE IT FUN
Assist older children as needed and inspect older kids’ mouths since they may begin to get lazy about tooth care on their own. Use fun toothbrushes available for kids when they get bored of the usual routine. There are spinners available, toothbrushes that play music for the desired length of brushing time, you get the idea.

SCHEDULE THE FIRST APPOINTMENT AT AGE 1
Don’t be nonchalant about the first appointment if you want the best outcome for your child’s teeth. Simply seeing the dentist with your child will help you both get on a healthy schedule of good hygiene practices.

SEE THE DENTIST EVERY YEAR BEGINNING AT AGE 1
Find a local pediatric dentist in the pages of this magazine or visit the AAPD at aapd.org.

CONSIDER SEALANTS
While not a substitute for good brushing and hygeine, pediatric dentists can put sealants on your child’s teeth to prevent the development of cavities. Sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth, shutting out food particles that can get caught in teeth. Applying them is fast and easy, and sealants can protect teeth for many years.

Source: AAPD

Add comment