Preventative Dental Care
Would you have thought that healthy food would be on the list of preventive dental care? Well, it is! Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones, and the mouth’s soft tissues need a well-balanced diet. Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation, so the more frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance of tooth decay. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, hard candy and breath mints stay in the mouth for a long time, which causes prolonged acid attacks on tooth enamel. If your child must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese, which are healthier and better for children’s teeth.
Tooth Decay and Sugar
Sugars left in the mouth turn into an acid, causing tooth decay. Children are at high risk for tooth decay because many children and adolescents do not practice regular, good oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines and regular dental visits help prevent tooth decay.
Regular Dental Check-Ups
Your child should visit the dentist every six months for regular preventive dental cleanings and checkups. We recommend fluoride treatments twice a year and cleanings to keep teeth strong. Tooth sealants are also recommended because they “seal” the deep grooves in your child’s teeth, preventing decay from forming in these hard-to-reach areas. Your dental hygienist will monitor sealants for several years but at your child’s regular checkups.
How To Brush Your Teeth
Sealants For Preventive Care
We also recommend sealants for preventive care. A sealant is a protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth (premolars and molars), where four out of five cavities in children are found. This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque, and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth.
Fluoride Strengthens Teeth
Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that prevents tooth decay by 50-70%. Despite the advantages, too little or too much fluoride can harm teeth. With little or no fluoride, the teeth aren’t strengthened to help them resist cavities. Excessive fluoride ingestion by young children can lead to dental fluorosis, typically a chalky white discoloration (brown in advanced cases) of the permanent teeth. If needed, follow your pediatric dentist’s instructions on suggested fluoride use and possible supplements.
You can help by using fluoride toothpaste and only a smear of toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice) to brush a child’s teeth less than three years of age. For children 3 to 6 years old, use a “pea-size” amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child’s toothbrushing. Remember that young children cannot brush their teeth effectively on their own. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing to avoid fluorosis.
Mouth Guards to Prevent Injury
Injuries can occur when a child participates in recreational activities and organized sports. A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth protector, is an essential piece of athletic gear that can help protect your child’s smile and should be used during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth.
Mouth guards help prevent broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face, or jaw. A properly fitted mouth guard will stay in place while your child is wearing it, making it easy for them to talk and breathe.
Ask your pediatric dentist about custom and store-bought mouth protectors.
Xylitol Reduces Cavities
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes the benefits of xylitol on the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and persons with special health care needs. Mothers’ use of XYLITOL GUM (2-3 times per day) starting three months after delivery and until the child is two years old has proven to reduce cavities up to 70% by the time the child is five years old.
Xylitol is widely distributed throughout nature in small amounts. Some of the best sources are fruits, berries, mushrooms, lettuce, hardwoods, and corn cobs. One cup of raspberries contains less than one gram of xylitol.
Studies on Xylitol
Studies using xylitol as either a sugar substitute or a small dietary addition have demonstrated a dramatic reduction in new tooth decay and some reversal of existing dental caries. Xylitol provides additional protection that enhances all existing prevention methods and provides a long-lasting and possibly permanent effect. Even after trials are complete, low decay rates persist for years. These same studies also suggest that xylitol intake consistently produces positive results ranging from 4-20 grams daily, divided into 3-7 consumption periods. Higher results did not result in a more significant reduction and may lead to diminishing results. Similarly, a consumption frequency of fewer than three times per day showed no effect.
To find gum or other products containing xylitol, visit your local health food store or search the Internet for products containing 100% xylitol.
Beware of Sports Drinks
Due to the high sugar content and acids in sports drinks, they have erosive potential and the ability to dissolve even fluoride-rich enamel, which can lead to cavities.
To minimize dental problems, children should avoid sports drinks and hydrate with water before, during, and after sports. Be sure to talk to your pediatric dentist before using sports drinks.
If sports drinks are consumed:
- Reduce the frequency and contact time
- Swallow immediately and do not swish them around the mouth
- Beutralize the effect of sports drinks by alternating sips of water with the drink
- Rinse mouthguards only in water
- Seek out dentally friendly sports drinks
