Practice proper oral care for infants and young children

Caring for the teeth of infants and small children is an often overlooked but is very important component of keeping the child healthy.

It is commonly believed that children can inherit their parent’s bad teeth, or “soft” teeth. This belief is mostly myth, as the only thing that children tend to inherit from their parents are their oral hygiene habits. Developing proper oral hygiene habits early in life is critical and will help children to maintain those habits throughout their lifetime.

Oral hygiene aims to minimize plaque build-up on the teeth and ultimately prevent cavities, which are caused by the bacteria that live in the mouth. When there is sugar present on the teeth, bacteria thrive on it, and they produce acid, which weakens teeth.

This weakening can cause holes to form in the teeth, where the bacteria can reside and eventually rot the tooth. Proper oral hygiene can prevent this process. The following include tips for parents to give their children a great start to being orally healthy:

Brushing: Parents should begin to care for their baby’s teeth as soon as the first one is exposed. If the child will tolerate a toothbrush, parents can use a baby toothbrush to brush the tooth. Many children will not tolerate a toothbrush, and a wet rag or paper towel can be used to wipe the tooth. Toothpaste is not necessary. Tooth brushing should be done twice per day, once in the morning and once before bed.

Seeing a dentist: Children should see a dentist anytime after the first tooth is exposed, and no later than one year of age. Dentists can identify particular problems or risk factors for children and they will suggest how often the child should return.

Toothpaste: As the child gets older and will tolerate a toothbrush, they can begin using toothpaste. It is very important to buy children’s toothpaste, and more specifically, age-specific toothpaste. Children’s toothpaste contains less fluoride than adult toothpaste, as children are more likely to swallow it.

Flossing: Flossing can begin as soon as the child has two teeth next to each other. Flossing helps to prevent cavities between the teeth, a common place for plaque and bacteria to reside. Flossing children’s teeth can be made easier by using small plastic disposable flossers, available at most stores.

Assisting the child: It is essential for parents to help their child with brushing until they and their dentists are satisfied that the child can do an effective job alone. As soon as the child begins to show interest in brushing and wants to do it alone, it is acceptable to let them try. Young children, however, lack the manual dexterity to do an effective job by themselves, so it is necessary for parents to help them by brushing their teeth again.

Make it a game: Some children will hate having their teeth brushed. Starting earlier in life is one way to make this process easier. Many parents also find that it can be made easier by making a game of it.

Preventing bottle rot: Parents should be aware of their child’s nighttime feeding habits. If the child wakes up and feeds at night, the child’s teeth should be brushed before going back to sleep. If the child is put to sleep with a bottle, the only acceptable liquid in the bottle is water. Milk and juice contain a great amount of sugar, and putting the child down with a milk or juice bottle can cause “bottle rot.”

Oral health has been shown to be a good indicator of a person’s health in general, so it is important for parents to give their children a good start to great oral health. Parents should call a dentist if they have any questions or concerns.

(Special thanks to Dr. Gabe McCormick, DMD).