Cavity Prevention - Help Keep Decay Away
Babies: Clean your baby’s gums even before his/her first teeth erupt. Wipe them with a damp washcloth after feedings. Start brushing as soon as soon as the first tooth appears. Wet a baby toothbrush and gently rub it back and forth on the surface of the tooth and along the gum line. Teeth should always be brushed or wiped after feeding in the night, including breastfeeding.
Toddlers: Brush your child’s teeth for at least 30 seconds (ideally a minute) after breakfast and before bed. Lean his / her head on your lap and place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the teeth.
Non-Flouride Toothpaste: Use non-fluoride toothpaste as too much fluoride can lead to fluorosis, which causes white spots on the teeth. That is why kids under 2 or 3 shouldn’t use fluoride toothpaste as they will swallow it instead of spitting it out.
This can occur in babies all the way through the college years. From their first tooth to wisdom teeth, teething can cause discomfort. Tylenol or motrin is a great option for pain relief. Cold foods, such as a frozen banana, or teether rings help our little ones. We do not recommend using Orajel with infants.
It is recommended that your child stop sucking habits (pacifier, thumb, etc.) by the age of three to prevent problems with their bite and facial development.
To help prevent cavities, it is recommended that your child stops using the bottle or sippy cup by their first birthday. To help parents reduce the risk of cavities in children, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry offers parents the following guidelines on using sippy cups properly:
- The sippy cup is a training tool to help children transition from a bottle to a cup. It shouldn’t be used for a long period of time – it’s not a bottle and it’s not a pacifier.
- Unless being used at mealtime, the sippy cup should only be filled with water. Frequent drinking of any other liquid, even if diluted, from a bottle or no-spill training cup should be avoided.
- Sippy cups should not be used at naptime or bedtime unless they only have water in them.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) also recommends no more than four to six ounces of juicy daily.
Based our experience with our children, we highly recommend this wonderful list of books to read with your children leading to your appointments with us:
Peppa Pig: Dentist Trip
Dora the Explorer: Show me your smile
The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist
Dr. Seuss The Tooth Book