Four Ways of preventing tooth decay in your children.

[Tariq Drabu]

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that eat away at the outer layer of the tooth. If your teeth are not taken care of in a proper way, the enamel wears out, which can happen even at a younger age. Habits that we take, and get used to, contribute to much of the health of our teeth. We visited one of the most reputable dentist’s Fort Worth offices and he shared some of the habits we ought to practice on our children in order to prevent them from suffering from tooth decay.

1. Ensure your child brushes and flosses daily: The first step towards avoiding any type of mouth problems and maintaining oral hygiene is keep your mouth clean. You should clean your child’s gums everyday with a soft pad to remove any plaque before his or her first teeth come in. Once the child’s teeth start growing, clean them using a soft toothbrush. Flossing should start as soon as your child’s teeth start touching each other.

 

2. Your teeth and gums should also be well taken care of: Saliva contains bacteria that contributes to tooth decay, so if you don’t take good care of your teeth, you are more likely to transfer these bacterium to your child. You should avoid sharing spoons and other utensils with your child because this will stop any transfer of bacteria. Also, clean your baby’s pacifier before putting it in his or her mouth.

 

3. Give your baby health foods: Once the baby has started eating, ensure that you are giving him or her healthy and nutritious foods  that would reduce any risk of tooth decay. For instance, give your kids meals containing whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Cheese, milk and yoghurt are also very good for teeth. These foods help clear out any harmful sugars that can exist in the mouth and also prevent the formation of plaque. It is also important to brush or rinse out your child’s mouth after eating foods high in sugar.

4. Encourage your baby to take less tasty or plain water: When your child is almost 12 months, you should give him or her beverages from bottles ad cups. If there are problems with weaning your child, it is advisable to dilute the high sugar liquids to make them less tasty. You should also encourage the baby to drink plain water especially at night.

Practicing these tips will fully protect your child from getting tooth decay. Drinking water with fluoride is safe for both children and adults, but should your baby need extra fluoride, your dentist can recommend available supplements. These supplements should only be used as advised because too much can become toxic and would stain the child’s teeth.

[Steffany Mohan, DDS]

Great points shared! Thanks a lot. Start cleaning your child's mouth even before her teeth come in. Make sure your baby's new teeth get the best care. One of the best ways to avoid baby bottle tooth decay is to not allow your baby to nurse on a bottle while going to sleep. Encouraging your young child to drink from a cup as early as possible will also help stave off the problems associated with baby bottle tooth decay. If you think your child has tooth decay it’s important to visit a dentist to stop the decay from getting worse.