How to care for your baby’s teeth

Dental health in American children has significantly improved over their parent’s oral health because children today have the benefit of fluoride and sealants that were either not available or available to a much lesser extent than when their parents were young. Below are some guidelines for dental health parents may consider as their child grows and develops.

Before Birth-Parents Dental Work Should Be Completed

To continue improvement in the oral health of children, parents must be diligent even before their birth. Parents can unknowingly pass the primary bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) to there newborns, whom are not born with that bacteria necessary to cause dental cavities. The recommendation is that parents are up to date with dental treatments so that the transference of Strep mutans occurs later in life and in lower concentrations putting the child at less risk for developing cavities.

Infancy-Bedtime Bottles

Never put your baby to bed with a bottle filled with anything but water. Milk, fruit drinks, apple juice, or sugar water in a bottle overnight is often responsible for hospitalization of the child to treat rampant dental cavities.

First Tooth – Begin Brushing

In order to prevent early dental cavities parents should start brushing their child’s teeth as soon as they erupt with very little toothpaste twice a day: once in the morning and again, just before bed in the evening. Starting this routine will develop into a healthy habit that he or she will continue through a lifetime.

At 6 months – Check Fluoride Levels

At about six months of age, it should be determined by your pediatrician, family physician, or dentist if he or she is receiving optimal fluoride levels or if a fluoride supplement is needed.

At 1 year – Dental Exams Begin

By one year of age, your child should have his or her first dental examination and continue every six months in order to maintain good oral health for a lifetime.

Source: http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/peddent/

Smiles Across America® is a program created by Oral Health America and sponsored by Trident® gum. Smiles Across America® is dedicated to bringing dental services and education to undeserved communities around the US. They recognize that untreated oral diseases and tooth decay are major problems that affect today’s children and have come up with great programs to engage young audiences.  Launched in partnership with public schools and community oral health providers, SAA has provided over $1.1 million in grant support to programs in Maine, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minnesota, Las Vegas, and Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties (CA). SAA funding for oral disease prevention services allows communities to leverage resources and expand programs for uninsured and underinsured children.  The program supports services to over 90,000 children annually and helps communities respond to the critical need for oral disease prevention and oral health promotion.

Recently Jennie Garth, shown here with Max T Mustang, joined the team at a New York City public school to help show the importance of oral health care. If you would like to know more about this program you can visit them online at http://www.oralhealthamerica.org/index.html