Wellness Articles

Guidelines for Parents -
Growing Good Teeth and Gums

Wellness Index

Because their children's teeth are replaced by permanent teeth at the age of 12 or 14, some parents may feel that baby teeth are only of value to — well — the "tooth fairy." Think again.

These baby teeth generally must serve your child for 5 to 10 years or more. They are necessary for proper chewing and eating. They provide the space for the permanent teeth and guide them into position. They permit the normal development of the jaw bones and muscles, affect the development of speech, and add to an attractive appearance. Besides, by caring for your baby's teeth and gums, you help your child develop good dental habits.

Good Habits Begin Early

You can begin gently cleaning your baby's mouth the day after birth. Wipe out the mouth and massage the gum pads with a gauze pad or washcloth after each feeding and before bedtime.

When your baby's teeth do appear through the gum, clean them with a child-size toothbrush with soft, round bristles. Continue to clean those areas that do not yet have teeth using a clean gauze pad or washcloth.

When all the primary teeth have appeared, you can begin using dental floss daily between any teeth that touch each other.

Nursing decay, or bottle-mouth syndrome, can result from prolonged nursing. The teeth in a child who either sleeps with a bottle or who nurses frequently can quickly develop this type of decay. The best prevention is weaning by approximately 12 months of age.

Diet Control

In the United States, over 90 percent of school-aged children have some form of tooth decay. Reducing sugar in the diet can greatly reduce the danger of dental diseases, such as cavities, in your child. Sugar is the greatest enemy of teeth and goes by many names: sucrose, fructose, glucose, dextrose, raw sugar, brown sugar, turbinado, honey, molasses, corn syrup, corn sweetener, and natural sweetener. Get in the habit of reading labels when you shop for groceries. The food industry is required to list ingredients by their proportionate weight, so it’s best to choose foods with sugar or one of its aliases closer to the end of the list or, even better, without added sugar.

There are several alternatives to sugar-laden prepared snacks and desserts. Offer a piece of fruit instead of a cookie or snack cake. A baked sweet potato also makes a good snack.

Fluoride and Sealants

Fluoride is one of the most effective tools in fighting cavities, because it combines with tooth enamel to make teeth more resistant to decay.

Pediatric dentists estimate that fluoride can prevent two out of three cavities in children, good news not only for the children but for their cost-conscious parents.

It is very important that your baby receives only the amount of fluoride your pediatric dentist or pediatrician advises. This is usually a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. A fluoride mouth rinse may also be recommended for older children who have learned not to swallow it.

Some dentists recommend placing protective plastic sealants on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They keep the bumpy surfaces from trapping food and bacteria. Using sealants and fluorides together reduces decay up to 90 percent!

With good dental hygiene and proper attention to diet, anyone can keep their teeth for life. Begin teaching your children the importance of good dental hygiene early, and they’ll enjoy a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Are Dental X-rays Safe?

Radiation exposure from dental x-rays has been significantly reduced over the years by a number of modern techniques and improved equipment and materials, such as high-speed x-ray film, which shortens exposure time. Such improvements and safety measures mean a child receives less radiation from a dental x-ray than from a few hours outside in the sun. The information that x-rays can provide may be essential for a lifetime of good dental health.

©1989 Parlay International. Single copies may be printed for personal use, but the printing of multiple copies is prohibited.