Tooth Decay and Children

Tooth decay is a common chronic disease in children but there are several steps that can be taken to prevent the development of decay.

One important prevention idea is to reduce the prolonged exposure to sugar-containing liquids. Sugary beverages like sweetened fruit juice or soft drinks should be limited or closely monitored.  If a child uses a sippy cup for extended periods, fill it with water instead of sugary drinks and don’t allow him or her to take it to bed.  Learning to drink from a regular cup as soon as possible will reduce the contact that sugary liquids will have with the teeth.

Another idea is to limit the child’s consumption of starchy or sugary snacks.  The starchy foods can remain stuck in the teeth for a long time after eating and will promote the growth of the bacteria that cause decay.

A proper at-home oral health care regimen is also important. Make sure that your child brushes his or her teeth twice a day for 2 minutes.  Adult supervision is necessary.  Children over 2 years old can use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Non-fluoridated toothpastes are available if the child appears to be ingesting the toothpaste.

The use of fluoridated water throughout the early years of life will help the primary and adult teeth to be more resistant to decay.  The use of bottled water or heavily filtered water may reduce the ideal amount of fluoride that the teeth are able to absorb during their development.

Start flossing between your child’s teeth as soon as there are two teeth that touch together. This will prevent the buildup of food and plaque in the areas that the tooth brush can’t clean.

Finally, regular visits to the dentist will help prevent the development of tooth decay.  The dentist can monitor the effectiveness of the at-home oral care regimen and make suggestions on where it can be improved.  Visits that are at are spaced at 6 month intervals are typical starting at age 2 to 3.  That allows the child to become familiar with the dentist’s office environment and allows the dentist to treat any small problems before they become more extensive.