The 6 don ’ts of caring for your child’s teeth

Did you know that tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood? And that 40% of children have tooth decay by kindergarten? This is a big deal, not only because of the pain and infection it can cause, but also because children with tooth decay are more likely to miss school and have poorer grades — and because tooth decay is linked to a higher risk of many health problems later in life, including heart disease and premature birth. Tooth decay is simple to prevent, yet sadly, many families don’t take the steps that are needed. 1.   Don’t skip the fluoride. Fluoride is very helpful when it comes to preventing tooth decay. Too much fluoride isn’t good, as it can lead to fluorosis — but avoiding fluoride entirely is a big mistake. There is no need for “training” toothpaste. As soon as your child has teeth, you should use fluoride toothpaste. The trick is to only use a tiny bit. Before age 3, just a barely visible smear is plenty. Starting at 3, use a pea-sized amount. 2.  Don’t shirk the brushing. It can be busy in the morning when you are trying to get everyone out of the house — and it’s understandable to be so exhausted in the evening that just getting kids into bed becomes the goal. But regular brushing is key to preventing cavities. Ideally, brushing should happen after every meal, but twice a day is fine. Once a day is not fine. 3.  Don’t skip supervising the brushing. Independence is great in kids, but not when it comes to brushing t...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Children's Health Dental Health Parenting Source Type: blogs