Viva Vitality: Take care of your teeth every day
By Medicine Hat News on November 17, 2017.
Protecting your children’s teeth from decay helps their overall health and well-being. Decay in a child’s mouth can cause pain and infection that can make your child sick. Many children obtain their first adult molar at around six years old. Baby teeth are still very important to protect because they help with the body’s teething pattern. Visiting the dentist every six months starting at the age of one is a great way to ensure your children remain free from decay, but there are other ways to encourage ongoing dental care. Fluoride offers the best protection for your children’s teeth. Brushing immediately after the first tooth erupts with a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste can help prevent tooth decay. As soon as your child turns three, switch to brushing with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Fluoride helps to harden enamel that can become soft due to the beginning stages of decay. Water fluoridation can also help strengthen tooth enamel as the teeth are developing before they erupt. Speaking with your dentist will ensure that your child is getting the appropriate amount of fluoride. Alberta Health Services offers a preschool fluoride varnish program as well. If you are interested visit http://www.ahs.ca/oralhealth for more information about eligibility. Dental sealants are also a preventative measure for tooth decay. A dental sealant is when a thin plastic coating is applied to your child’s molars. The coating prevents sugar and foods from getting into the deep pits on the biting surfaces of teeth. These deep pits are usually high risk areas for tooth decay because they are so difficult to clean. Further discussion with your dentist will eliminate any questions and concerns that you may have regarding this procedure. Adequate brushing and flossing is important. Brushing twice daily can help prevent tooth decay — best practice is in the morning and once at night. Electric toothbrushes are an effective way to access difficult areas. It is important to assist your child with brushing until the age of eight years old. Flossing is also important. There are a variety of flossing products available to ensure proper technique. Flossing nightly can reach the spaces in between the teeth that are usually missed by brushing alone. Both child floss-picks and string floss are effective, as long as you are cleaning in between the teeth. Experimentation with products is necessary to find the right floss to meet your needs. A healthy diet is another important practice for protecting teeth from decay. Sugar is a major cause of tooth decay. Limiting your children’s sugar intake as much as possible is equally important. As well, if sugar is consumed, make sure that it is only during meal times. Encourage children to drink water to eliminate thirst. When milk or juice is consumed it should accompany a meal. Sipping sugar drinks all day and night causes cavities. Try to make your bedtime routine include water as a drink instead of allowing your children/babies to sleep with milk or juices. Developing this habit at an early age will create a consistent healthy pattern for the later years. Remember to encourage healthy snacks like cheese, yogurt, fresh fruit or vegetables instead of sugary snacks that are unhealthy for the body and teeth. Together these methods will help to ensure proper oral health. Jenna Simmons is a dental hygienist with Alberta Health Services, Health Promotions. She can be reached by email jenna.simmons@ahs.ca 7-6
