By Stacy Whitman
Why kids dental care matters
Kids dental care can be easy to brush off when you’re dealing with a squirmy or uncooperative tot. But there are important new reasons to make it a top priority. Studies now link poor oral health to heart disease, dementia, diabetes and several forms of cancer—and the problems can start in early childhood, says Dan Sindelar, DMD, president and cofounder of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health. Cavities are caused by a bacterial infection that can spread from tooth to tooth. If your little one has bad teeth at age 4, there’s an 85 percent chance he’ll have them later in life. Here’s kids dental care tips for how to keep the cavity bugs at bay:
Kids dental care tips
- Clean his teeth and gums at least twice a day (including right after breakfast and just before bed) with a soft, clean cloth or a baby toothbrush.
- Floss once a day (ideally right before bed). Even if he doesn’t have all his teeth, this is an important part of kids dental care.
- Avoid sweet, sticky foods (such as dried fruits and candy) and acidic beverages (like fruit juice).
- Restrict a bottle or sippy cup to meals and snack times only, after the age of 6 months.
- Aim to ditch the bottle by your child’s first birthday.
- Professional kids dental care matters, so take your baby to the dentist by his first birthday.
- Talk to your child’s dentist or pediatrician about how much fluoride he needs.
- Begin using fluoride toothpaste once he’s able to spit it out (usually around age 2 or 3).
- If you notice spots or stains on your child’s teeth, see a dentist stat.
Got any tips for how you get your little one excited about brushing? Share ‘em in the comments!
Here’s how to keep your child’s pearly whites healthy and clean.
