February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The American Dental Association (ADA) made this proclamation in 1981 to bring together dentists, other healthcare providers and teachers to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their parents and caregivers. This annual campaign helps to raise awareness about the importance of establishing healthy habits and practices early on so that they become second nature as children grow to adulthood, and enjoy a healthy smile for a lifetime!
This year’s theme is “Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth for a healthy smile.” But actually, setting your child up for optimum oral health begins much sooner.
Clean Your Baby’s Gums in Infancy
You may be surprised to learn just how soon you should start! As our blog post ― “How to Instill Good Oral Hygiene Habits in Your Child” ― covers, start when your child is still an infant. After your baby is finished feeding (either formula or breast milk), wipe down their gums using a moist washcloth. This eliminates bacteria in the mouth that can harm the primary teeth as they emerge ― and has the additional benefit of getting your baby used to an oral care routine that will, of course, evolve to brushing and flossing.
Since we’ve mentioned feeding, never put your baby to bed with a bottle! In addition to creating the conditions for tooth decay, it’s a choking hazard and can also cause ear infections from fluid entering the ear canal.
Once teething starts, graduate to a finger toothbrush. This brush is made of rubber, has soft bristles and slips on to the index finger. Gently rub the finger brush along your baby’s gumline and around the emerging teeth. When the first tooth fully erupts, use the finger brush or a soft-bristle infant-sized toothbrush. Apply a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste — no larger than a grain of rice — to brush twice a day. Most babies develop teeth between ages six and 12 months, with the full set of primary teeth erupted by age three.
Schedule Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist When the First Tooth Erupts
According to the ADA and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), a child’s first visit should be when the first tooth erupts — or no later than age one. The ADA notes that a baby can get cavities as soon as he or she has teeth.
Ignoring pediatric dental care has serious long-term consequences. As HealthyChildren.org — a parent-oriented information website presented by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) points out — “Without proper dental care, children face possible oral decay and disease that can cause a lifetime of pain and complications. Early childhood dental caries — an infectious disease — is 5 times more common in children than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.”
Primary teeth usually begin to shed at about age six, to be fully replaced by permanent teeth by age 13. The third molars — better known as wisdom teeth — are the exception, emerging (or not) from ages 17 to 21. Primary teeth facilitate proper chewing, contribute to speech development, maintain space for permanent teeth to erupt correctly, and positively impact a child’s self-esteem and overall oral health by promoting good eating habits and preventing future dental issues.
When you schedule your child’s first visit to the dentist, be sure that the dentist specializes in pediatric dentistry. Pediatric dentists have completed at least four years of dental school, plus two to three additional years of residency training in dentistry for infants, children, teens and children with special needs.
Children aren’t small-scale adults, physically or emotionally. Pediatric dentists receive instruction in child psychology — allowing them to appropriately address the emotions and energies that children bring to the chair so that the young patient is calm and cooperates with treatment. While a general dentist may relate well with adults, not all have the ability to effectively communicate with a child patient in a reassuring manner. A bad incident with a dentist in childhood can cause a dental phobia that continues into adulthood, so it’s important that children have a positive experience.
Moreover, a pediatric dentist can recognize early signs of trouble — such as tooth decay — and monitor primary teeth as they emerge to ensure they’re growing in properly positioned (and recommend orthodontic intervention if they’re not). Our blog post — “What is Pediatric Dentistry?” — covers the advantages of choosing a pediatric dentist for your child’s care in greater detail.
Teach Your Child How to Brush and Floss
Now that your child’s primary teeth are erupting, it’s time to teach the art of brushing — and eventually, flossing!
At age three ― or whenever your child can comfortably handle a toothbrush ― you can teach proper brushing technique, brushing at a 45° angle toward the gumline in a back-and-forth motion. Your child won’t have the motor coordination to handle brushing on their own, so your help will be needed. Use a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste, and assist with brushing for two minutes. Teach your child to spit the toothpaste out and avoid swallowing, because it can upset the “tummy.” When your child has teeth that touch, help them floss once a day.
Taking your child shopping and allowing them to pick out a toothbrush will give them a “buy-in” in the process and make them feel involved. Depending upon your child’s temperament, they may fuss at first over this new routine, but being consistent with supervision and guidance is key. Establish regular times for brushing and keep in mind that teaching proper brushing technique may be an ongoing effort. Children are too young to fully understand why they need to brush, so it’s up to you to make sure they stay on routine.
At around age eight, children can typically handle brushing on their own. They may still need assistance in flossing until their manual dexterity further develops, usually by age 10. At this stage, continue to make sure they stay on schedule and do a thorough job until they can grasp the importance of regular brushing and flossing, and have the ability to take over and assume the responsibility for themselves. Our blog post ― “How to Instill Good Oral Hygiene Habits in Your Child” ― provides additional tips for getting your youngster excited about brushing.
Fluoride is essential to building strong enamel in both primary and permanent teeth. While most major toothpaste brands contain fluoride, look for one that contains stannous fluoride, rather than sodium fluoride. Stannous fluoride is an antibacterial agent clinically proven to protect against gingivitis, plaque and tooth sensitivity, while protecting against cavities. Sodium fluoride protects against cavities, but doesn’t provide protection from these other conditions.
Your child’s dentist may also recommend an in-office fluoride varnish treatment. This consists of a concentrated form of fluoride, painted onto the top and sides of the teeth. The varnish itself is not a permanent layer — it stays on the teeth for several hours, allowing the fluoride to seep into the enamel and strengthen the teeth. Adults can benefit from this treatment, as well.
Limit Sugary Beverages and Snacks
Access to cookies, candy, snack cakes, soda, etc., should be limited to a certain time of day, followed immediately by brushing. But these are just the obvious culprits. Many packaged foods contain “hidden” sugars that are just as detrimental to oral — and general — health as those typically considered sweet treats. And while fruit juice may seem a healthy beverage, all fruit juice — whether it’s apple, orange, grape or a fancy blend such as peach-mango-blueberry — is high in sugar. An eight-ounce serving of juice and cola both contain about 30 grams of sugar on average — that’s almost eight teaspoons. This is true even for 100-precent natural fruit juices. Read the Nutrition Facts label on every package, bottle or can to see the amount of sugar it contains. You might be unpleasantly surprised!
The Take-Home Message
National Children’s Dental Health Month focuses attention on the importance of establishing good oral health habits that will become established into adulthood. By making your child’s oral health a priority, every month will be National Children’s Dental Health Month — at least, in your family!
While NK Family Dental treats patients of all ages, we give children the specialized attention they deserve! The spa-like ambiance of our office creates a tranquil environment in which Dr. Nilofer Khan and her staff talk to young patients at their level of understanding, giving them a “tour” of the examination room and gently explaining each step of the procedure.
One of the many advantages NK Family Dental offers is that we can treat every member of your family under one roof, at every stage of life. The child you trust to our care from that first appointment can continue here through the teen years to adulthood, always treated by compassionate professionals.
It is our mission to provide the highest quality and most compassionate oral care to our Chicago patients, including both dental and periodontal services. Our practice is trusted for advanced oral surgery procedures and comfortable root canal treatment.
Our team of experienced, dedicated dental professionals will help address your oral health concerns, and determine the best solution for you based on your individual situation. We strive to identify treatment options that fit your needs.
Our dental specialists include our general dentist, Dr. Nilofer Khan, our endodontist, Dr. Sabek, and our periodontist, Dr. Amir Danesh. Dr. Danesh is a board-certified periodontist and Diplomat of the American Board of Periodontology. He has contributed to the publication of two books, as well as published over 20 papers in prestigious dental research journals.
We serve the neighborhoods of Logan Square, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Wicker Park with the dedication that’s earned us the reputation as the Best Dentist in Chicago!
We understand that the main concern you may have is cost, which is why we accept all major PPO plans for dental insurance and also offer our in-house dental plan. Please see our financing page for more information.
Schedule your visit through ZocDoc, or contact us directly. We look forward to treating you soon!