Children’s Oral Health: What You Need to Know

Taking care of children’s oral health is super important for their overall health. Did you know that tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in kids? It’s even more common than asthma, happening five time as often! If left untreated, tooth decay can cause pain, infections, problem with eating, speaking, and learning. Shockingly, it leads to over 51 million missed school hours every year!

The good news is that tooth decay can be prevented. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that children should have their first dental visit by their first birthday. This early visit helps prevent or stop tooth decay and makes sure kids don’t have to deal with pain, infection, or missing school.

To keep children’s teeth healthy and cavity-free, remember these tips:

• Brush their teeth two times a day for two mintues each time, using toothpaste that has fluoride.
• Use just a tiny bit of fluoride toothpaste ( the size of a grain of rice) for young kids because infants and toddlers might swallow some of it.
• Drink water or plain milk instead of sugary drinks.
• Choose fresh fruits and veggies instread of sweet snacks
• Only put water in bottle when you put child to bed at night.
• Visit the dentist every six months.

Pediatric dentists are specially trained professionals who focus on oral health of children. They complete an additional two or three years of training after dental school. This training includes dental disease prevention, child’s behavior, guiding the proper teeth alignment, providing care for children and those with special needs.