Children’s oral health begins with parents

  • Published
  • By Capt. Egypt McAdoo
  • 4th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
February is National Children's Dental Health Month and the 4th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Dental Flight would like to remind you of the important role you play in ensuring the long term oral health of your children.

Care for your children's teeth begins in infancy. It's recommended to visit the dentist by the age of one or when the first tooth erupts. Familiarizing your children with the dentist will help establish a positive relationship that can continue through adulthood.

Often, parents seek to soothe their baby during a nap or at bedtime by giving them juice or milk. Unfortunately, this constant exposure to sugary liquids creates a thin film of plaque on your child's teeth. While your child sleeps, the bacteria in the plaque are hard at work causing tooth decay.

It's true that baby teeth are eventually replaced by permanent teeth, but don't underestimate or neglect your child's first set of teeth. They not only make a huge impact on appearance, but also play a crucial role in your child's ability to speak and chew effectively.

To help prevent early tooth decay, consider the following tips:
- Use a pacifier for comfort instead of a bottle for children up to one year old
- Replace milk with water for children aged one and older
- Wipe your child's teeth and gums with a clean cloth after every feeding

When your child is about six years old, or as soon as the first molar erupts, talk to your dentist about applying dental sealants. A sealant is a clear or tooth-colored material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth that are most prone to cavities and tooth decay.

Completely painless in their application, sealants create a barrier on the teeth, particularly in the grooves that are difficult to reach with a tooth brush. This barrier keeps out plaque and food, significantly reducing the risk of tooth decay.

Daily brushing and flossing is your best insurance against cavities. Start brushing your child's teeth with a toothbrush and no more than a grain of rice amount of toothpaste. Begin flossing when two of their teeth touch. You will need to brush and floss your child's teeth daily until they can be taught to do so on their own, until age seven or eight.

Make sure your drinking water is fluoridated. If not, talk to your dentist about ways to get the adequate amount of fluoride for your children's teeth.

Good oral health practices should begin in infancy and continue throughout adulthood. In your child's early years, you must provide this care. Later, you will need to instruct, monitor and motivate your child to help maintain good oral health habits. Remember that attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life.

For more information on dental health, call the Dental Clinic at (919) 722-1933.