Tooth Decay Tips Every Parent Needs To Have
Posted on: 4 November 2015
Did you know that more than 40 percent of children have at least one cavity by the time they start kindergarten? According to the CDC, over 19 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 19 have at least one untreated cavity. Furthermore, 80 percent of children will have at least one cavity by the time they finish high school. These statistics are unfortunate because tooth decay is one of the more preventable diseases anyone can suffer from. The reason these statistics are the way they are is because parents tend to wait too long to help their children start a proper oral routine. Here are some tips to make sure your child goes down the right path when it comes to his or her teeth.
Oral Care Should Be Part of a Daily Routine
Just as you take care of your own teeth on a daily basis, you should take care of your child's teeth on a daily basis. Starting this early and making it a routine will make it easier for your child to understand it needs to be a part of his or her daily routine when he or she is older.
Keep Your Child's Mouth Clean Even Before There Are Teeth
Did you know you can use a soft and warm washcloth to wipe your child's mouth out before he or she has any teeth? Brushes are not recommended on the gums of an infant and toothpaste is not necessary until there are teeth. However, a soft and warm washcloth is all your baby needs to wipe the germs out of his or her mouth.
Make Sure You Use The Right Toothbrush
For most children, teeth will start to arrive around six months. However, that does vary pretty greatly from one child to the next. When your child gets his or her first teeth, you need to make sure you are using a toothbrush that is intended for babies. A toothbrush for a baby or infant is going to have a smaller head and much softer bristles than the toothbrush you are using on your teeth. This will avoid damaging your child's very sensitive gums.
You need to take charge of brushing your child's teeth and gums until he or she knows how to do it on his or her own. You will also need to pay careful attention to the toothpaste you are using for your child as well. You want to make sure you are using age-appropriate toothpaste in pea size amounts. It may be hard for a young child to not swallow the toothpaste, so keep this in mind and only purchase fluoride free toothpaste until your child understands not to swallow it.
Nothing is going to guarantee your child will not become another tooth decay statistic. However, by following these tips, you can feel good knowing you did everything you could possibly do to prevent it.
For professional dental services, contact a dentist such as Schererville Family Dentistry, PC.
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