Preventing Tooth Decay in Kids

Your child’s milk teeth will eventually fall out but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take care of the milk teeth. Brushing your child’s teeth every day and helping them practice good oral hygiene should begin as soon as the first pearly white appears, around the age of 8 months. Tooth decay and other oral hygienic issues won’t necessarily stop just because the first teeth fall out. It is critical that you care for these milk teeth in order to keep your child’s entire mouth healthy. So, apart from brushing your toddler’s teeth regularly, what can be done?

The Dummy Debate

One of the common worries for parents with toddlers is that their child’s dummy is going to cause problems with the mouth in the future. Does the dummy cause tooth decay, overbite and other problems? Most doctors agree that as long as the dummy is gone by the age of three or four, then it shouldn’t be a problem. This is also the case with a bottle. However, with this being said, it is important that you never dip sugar or sweets onto the dummy or that you let your child wander around with a bottle filled with juice or milk for hours on end. This can result in problems with tooth decay. Letting your toddler have a bottle of milk before bed and taking it off them before they falls asleep shouldn’t cause a problem down the road.

Watch the Sugars

You may actually be surprised at how much sugar your child is eating. Check all the labels and keep a diary for a week of the various ingredients and foods that your child has. Too much sugar will lead to tooth decay, regardless of your age.

If your child does experience a cavity in one of their milk teeth you will need to fix it as it can cause serious pain and problems down the road. Many toddlers will actually need to go under a general anaesthetic to have the procedure done which is something you will want to avoid at all costs. In most states, free dental is not provided until your child starts public school and it can be very costly to attend paediatric dentists. Do not assume that these teeth are the ‘practice ones.’

Establish a Dental Routine

Toddlers want to do everything themselves and there is  nothing wrong with letting them brush their own teeth as long as you get a turn as well. Let your toddler brush their teeth first and then finish up for them. This should be done in the morning and before bed. Make it a habit that you brush your teeth together. Perhaps let them brush their teeth when you are brushing yours so they feel involved. Toddlers do not need to start flossing until around the age of three.

It is also a good idea to take your child to the dentist as soon as possible. While they will most likely not need an appointment until the age of two or three, it is a good idea to get them used to this surrounding by letting them tag along with you and your partner when you go for your check-ups. That way they will become a little more familiar with the setting, the tools and the dentist.