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Children’s Dental Health-Useful Advice for Parents

childrens-dental-health-helpful-tips-for-parents

Dental health is a huge part of overall health. Taking care of your children’s dental health will give them a healthy start in life. A child can suffer serious health problems if their dental disease is not taken care of.

This article will discuss useful advice for parents to improve and maintain their children’s dental health from birth to adulthood. Parents can take an active role in caring for their child’s teeth. This includes cleaning their teeth at home, providing a balanced diet and scheduling regular dental visits. Children learn healthy habits from their parents so it is up to you to help them develop these habits.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about caring for your children’s teeth!

Before the First Tooth Erupts

Children’s dental health should begin early on. It is a good idea to start cleaning your child’s mouth when they are a baby, before the first tooth has even erupted. This allows the child to get used to having their mouth cleaned. Use a clean wet gauze or washcloth to gently wipe the gum area after each feeding. This will remove any plaque or food particles that may be present.

Never allow your baby to fall asleep with a bottle containing anything other than water. If a bottle contains formula, milk or juice it will allow sugar to come in contact with their mouth all night long. Even though there are no teeth present yet to come in contact with, it will set them up for the habit of relying on these damaging liquids at nighttime to fall asleep.

Offering a bottle containing sugary liquids as a pacifier is also not recommended. This will allow frequent acid attacks and increase tooth decay once their teeth begin to grow in. Babies have a higher risk of tooth decay if their newly erupted teeth are allowed to come in contact with sugary liquids for extended periods of time. Bacteria in the mouth will mix with the sugar in these drinks to produce acids. These acids are very detrimental to a baby’s teeth and can cause a condition called “baby bottle tooth decay”.

Your Child’s First Tooth

Your child’s baby teeth will hold the space in the jaw for the permanent teeth to develop. The baby teeth also help the child to speak normally and will help their chewing function and appearance.  Learn more about the importance of baby or primary teeth here from Wikipedia.

A baby’s 20 primary teeth are already present in the jawbone at birth and will erupt within the first 3 years of their life. Generally, the first tooth will arrive around 6 months. Some babies will erupt their first tooth as early as 4 months.  On the other hand, it is not uncommon for the first tooth to grow in closer to a year.

As a child grows, their jaw also grows. This allows room for the full set of 20 primary teeth to erupt over time. The first permanent teeth will start to erupt around age 6. As the permanent teeth develop under the roots of the primary teeth, the roots begin to resorb allowing for the shedding of the primary teeth. By age 12-13 years, your child will have the majority of their permanent teeth fully erupted.

Primary Teeth

  • Central incisor erupt 6-12 months and shed 6-7 yrs
  • Lateral incisor erupt 9-16 months and shed 7-8 yrs
  • Canine erupt 16-23 months and shed 9-12 yrs
  • First molar erupt 13-19 months and shed 9-11 yrs
  • Second molar erupt 23-33 months and shed 10-12 yrs

Permanent Teeth

  • Central incisor erupt 6-8 yrs
  • Lateral incisor erupt 7-9 yrs
  • Canine erupt 9-12 yrs
  • First premolar erupt 10-12 yrs
  • Second premolar erupt 10-12 yrs
  • First molar erupt 6-7 yrs
  • Second molar erupt 11-13 yrs
  • Third molar (wisdom tooth) erupt 17-21 yrs

Cleaning Your Child’s Teeth

childrens-dental-health-helpful-tips-for-parentsWhen your child’s first teeth start to erupt, it important to start brushing them. You can use a child-sized toothbrush and water.

It is easier to accomplish this if you are sitting on a bed or couch with your child lying down and their head on a pillow that is on your lap.

Once your child is age 2, the ADA recommends using a small pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on their brush. Fluoride toothpaste is not suggested earlier than age 2 due to the risk of swallowing it. Before age 2, children do not know how to spit out the toothpaste and too much ingested fluoride may cause a condition of permanent brown spots on the permanent teeth called fluorosis.

Continue to help your child brush their teeth until age 6. A good rule of thumb is to allow your child to brush for the first minute on their own. After one minute you can help them brush, making sure to reach the back teeth and the grooves in the molars where food and decay causing bacteria like to hide.

Check your child’s toothbrush often for bristles that are frayed or worn. Damaged bristles will not effectively remove plaque and food debris.

You can start to use dental floss when the adjacent teeth begin to touch. Children do not have the dexterity to floss using string floss on their own until age 8, so it is important to help them. You can floss for them or allow them to use a flossing tool with a handle that allows access to the back teeth.

Using an oral irrigator instead of floss is much more effective at removing plaque for children and adults. Using an oral irrigator will remove twice as much bacterial plaque than traditional string floss. Learn more about oral irrigators versus flossing.

It is recommended to brush twice daily, morning and night and floss once per day. Nighttime is the very most important time to brush your child’s teeth. At night, the mouth is moist, warm and dark and is the perfect breeding ground for decay causing bacteria. Using an electric toothbrush will allow your child to have 30,000 brush strokes per minute compared to only 500 brush strokes per minute when using a manual toothbrush. 

Products combining an electric toothbrush with an oral irrigator will provide superior plaque removal. These products are by far the most effective plaque removal tools known to date and will greatly improve your child’s oral health.

No spill cups or sippy cups should be discouraged as soon as the child is able to use an open cup. This will prevent sugary milk or juices from coming in contact with your child’s enamel for extended periods of time.

What’s the Proper Technique?

Here are some more helpful tips for parents when caring for their children’s dental health. When brushing, you will want to place a soft bristled toothbrush against the gumline at a 45 degree angle towards the gum.

If your child is under two, remember not to use fluoridated toothpaste. A pea sized amount of toothpaste is all that is needed. Gently move the brush back and forth in short tooth-wide strokes. Using a circular motion is best for adequate plaque removal.

Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower. Repeat this method for the insides of all the teeth. Finally, be sure to brush the chewing surfaces of the back teeth as this is where most plaque and bacteria will be hiding. Don’t forget to brush the top surface of the tongue as this is another place bacteria like to hide. Floss

Using a tool called a tongue cleaner will effectively remove bacteria from the surface of your child’s tongue.  This will greatly improve any issues with bad breath as these bacteria give off a smelly by product called volatile sulfur compounds. Learn more about treating bad breath here.

When flossing, use about a foot and a half of floss. This seems like a lot but using this amount will make it easier to maneuver and properly hang on to the floss. Wind each end of the floss around your middle fingers to allow a good grip.

Use a gentle back and forth see-saw motion to guide the floss between the teeth until resistance is felt by the gums. Using a curving C-shape, gently wrap the floss around both sides of the teeth and use a scraping motion to clean food or plaque from in between the teeth. Repeat these steps in between each of the teeth. Remember also to floss the backs of the furthest back teeth on top and bottom.

Your Child’s First Dental Visit

Dental office

When your child’s first tooth develops, it is time to schedule their first dental visit. Ideally, the first visit should be around their first birthday. You should treat this visit as you would treat your baby’s well child visit with their pediatrician.

During your child’s first visit, the dentist will accomplish several things. A complete oral exam will be done to check development and growth, access oral health and check for cavities or other problems. Your child’s teeth will be cleaned and tips provided to maintain or improve oral hygiene.

The dentist will discuss teething, finger or thumb sucking habits and pacifier use. It will be determined whether your child is receiving enough fluoride to prevent cavities and whether your child is at risk for developing cavities.

Having the first dental check up at an early age will establish your child’s “dental home”. This is a place you can take your child for continued care year after year to maintain your children’s dental health.

An early visit helps the dentist get to know your child and their specific needs so they can provide the best care for them. It is best to meet the dentist when your child is having no problems-don’t wait until they are having an issue. This will ensure the most pleasant visit and a good experience for your child.

What About Sucking Habits?

Baby sucking on pacifier

Sucking is a natural reflex. Babies and young children many suck on pacifiers, fingers or thumbs to help them feel happy, safe and provide a sense of security. Many infants rely on sucking habits to induce sleep, as sucking is relaxing.

Sometimes a child’s sucking habits may interfere with proper alignment of the teeth or proper growth of the mouth. The habit’s duration, intensity and frequency will determine if dental problems will result. Usually by age 2 to 4, a child will stop these habits on their own. If your child continues these sucking habits beyond age 4, it is a good idea to discuss this with your child’s dentist to see if there are any growth or developmental concerns.

You can help wean your child of these habits. Praise your child for not sucking instead of scolding them. Positive reinforcement is the most encouraging way to wean them of their habit. A child will often suck on their fingers, thumb or pacifier when seeking comfort.

Try to focus on eliminating the cause of anxiety and comfort your child. Children who are sucking for comfort will feel less of a need when they receive reassurance from their parents. Placing a bandage or sock over your child’s finger or thumb will help to remind and encourage them to stop these behaviors. This practice is best done at night.

Diet is Important Too!

Happy child smiling

Children’s dental health includes a well balanced diet. A good diet is essential for your child’s growth and development and their healthy teeth will depend on it. What and how often we eat directly affect our teeth.

Our teeth are constantly forming bacterial plaque. When the sugar your child consumes mixes with the plaque, it produces cavity causing acids. When your child is allowed to snack often, this encourages more opportunity for acid attacks which puts them at a higher risk for tooth decay. Other factors that may influence decay are the amounts and type of bacteria in the mouth.

Help your child to develop good eating habits. Limiting between meal snacks that are sugary and sticky like cookies, fruit snacks or candy is best. These snacks encourage decay. Instead, offer snacks that are good for your children’s dental health. These snacks include raw vegetables, fruits, cheese and nuts.

Nuts and cheese contain enzymes that discourage plaque from forming cavities. Fruit and vegetables are self cleansing foods as the chewing of these foods reduce bacterial plaque. The mouth makes more saliva at mealtime to help rinse away food particles so it is best to save sugary snacks to be included with meals.

What About Fluoride?

Research has shown that fluoride prevents cavities and helps repair and remineralize early stages of tooth decay. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in all water sources. Some water sources such as city water have added fluoride.

For children, fluoride strengthens the enamel and makes it more resistant to decay. It will help to reverse the cavity process for teeth with beginning decay areas. There are two ways your child can obtain fluoride: systemic or topical.

Fluoride obtained systemically are all forms of fluoride that are ingested. This would include water fluoridation or supplements. Topical fluoride is obtained when applied to the outer surface of the enamel. Examples of topical fluoride would be in the form of toothpastes, mouth rinse or the varnish applied topically at the dental office.

Community water fluoridation is an extremely effective way to achieve both topical and systemic fluoride. Sometimes parents give their children bottled water instead of tap water. Some bottled waters contain fluoride but most do not. Take this fact into consideration by supplying additional forms of fluoride if you are only giving your child bottled water.

It is a good idea to check with your child’s dentist before giving them supplemental fluoride. Some children may or may not require additional fluoride if they are at low risk for developing tooth decay.

Happiness is a Healthy Smile…

Two happy boys smiling and laughing

Parents need to participate in caring for their child’s teeth. It is important that parents teach their children how to take care of their teeth and practice healthy habits that will continue into adulthood.

Now you know how to help your child practice good oral hygiene habits. Your children’s dental health will depend on these tips for parents.

You can start them off right with a balanced, healthy diet and teach them the importance of regular dental care. Then, you can set a good example for your children by also brushing twice daily, flossing daily and visiting your dentist regularly.

By following the tips in this article, you can help your child have a healthy smile for life! I invite you to take an active role in your children’s dental health. Please leave any questions or comments below and I will be happy to help.

Medical Disclaimer:
The information that I provide on my website is not intended to take the place of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Care and investigation should always be sought from an appropriate health care provider.  I am not a doctor and do not claim to be one.  I have created this site as a way to share information and experiences. 

 


16 comments

  1. Yormith96

    Hi there, thanks for sharing this details article on Children’s Dental Health- Helpful Tips For Parents.  Healthy teeth are important to your child’s overall health. They help your child eat and talk. Strong oral care helps set good dental habits as your child grows. Poor oral care can lead to infection, disease, or other teeth problems.  It is important to take good care of our kid’s teeth and every caring parent needs to take this into consideration.

    1. Michelle

      Yourmith96,

      I couldn’t agree with you more.  Learning good dental habits as a child will carry over into adulthood.  This will set a precedence for lifelong oral health.  Taking care of your child’s dental needs will prevent future dental problems and help to teach them the importance of caring for their own teeth as they grow.

      Thanks for sharing your comment,

      Michelle

  2. tawhid

    Hello,

    I have read your article of Children’s Dental Health- Helpful Tips For Parents, really very helpful and informative post. i appreciate your good work. This is essential for every parent.  Lots of parents don’t know how to take care of their children’s teeth but reading your article will help them a lot. I will share this with others. Thanks for the post.

    1. Michelle

      Tawhid,

      I appreciate your positive feedback on the article “Children’s Dental Health- Helpful Tips for Parents”.  Please forward and share with any parent you know.  Many pediatricians rely on dentists to inform the parents about their children’s dental health.  However, many parents wait until their child is two or three before visiting their dentist for the first time.  A visit around the first birthday will allow the parent to gather useful information early on.

      Thanks for the feedback,

      Michelle

  3. Lok Which

    This is a must read for every mother and every parent who wishes to have a kid of their own. This is an awesome article on health tips for children. I will take it upon myself to rebroadcast this information so others can get educated and informed also. My question is whenever a tooth erupts from a baby’s mouth he or she begins to show signs of being uncomfortable like crying, so can I leave the baby for at least a day or two days before touching the tooth? I will be looking forward to your reply . Thanks.

    1. Michelle

      Lok,

      Thank you for your comment.  I hope this article answers many questions for parents about their children’s dental health.  Yes, it is perfectly fine not to be aggressive in cleaning your child’s teeth as a new tooth erupts.  It will usually only be uncomfortable for a few days to a week as the tooth makes its way through the tissue.  You can gently brush the area as it continues to erupt.  Allowing your child to chew on a frozen teething ring or even a frozen bagel will ease the discomfort as this happens.  The chewing action will naturally be mechanically cleansing for the area so brushing is not imperative.

      Best wishes, 

      Michelle

  4. marlasmith

    Thanks for the great information.  I do have a question.  My son has been receiving fluoride in a pill form since he was very little and he is now 10 years old.  It gets the fluoride since we have well water, and I was believed that meant that our water has no fluoride it is.  You mentioned that all water has fluoride with the exception of many bottled waters.  Does well water have natural fluoride in it?  He brushes twice/day and he also uses Act for kids.  Do you believe I am overdoing his fluoride, or do you believe the supplement is ok for him since we have well water?  I have been wondering if I am overdoing it with the fluoride and was also wondering since he is getting older if he no longer needs the additional fluoride.  

    Thanks for your help.  

    1. Michelle

      Marlasmith,

      A fluoride content of 0.7 ppm in drinking water is what is now considered best for dental health.  A concentration of 4.0 ppm could be hazardous.  Without having your well water tested, it is hard to know how much fluoride may be in your water supply.  Your well water will have some natural fluoride in it.  Exposure to high concentrations of fluoride as the teeth are developing can lead to dental fluorosis.  I would check with your dentist.  The dentist may suggest eliminating the supplemental fluoride rinse because of the systemic ingestion already taking place (pill form).  Your child may not require this much fluoride especially if your child is not at risk for decay.  Having your well water tested is always a good idea.

  5. Mark

    This article caught my eye, primarily because I grew up with a mother who was a dental assistant. Needless to say, I could never get away with neglecting my teeth. It seemed like a nuisance at the time, but I was fortunate to not get more than maybe two cavities during my youth, compared to my candy-addicted friends who seemed to get them all the time. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for helping children with smaller mouths floss more comfortably. I know I had trouble with it and it seemed like I couldn’t do it without slobbering all over myself, which made it a rather miserable experience. Brushing is one thing, since the toothbrush isn’t very big. But it can be hard to floss the teeth at the back of the mouth when you can’t get more than a couple fingers in there at a time.

    1. Michelle

      Mark,

      I understand your concern flossing children’s teeth due to their small mouths.  It can be difficult to use string floss due to dexterity issues.  I find using a flossing aid with a long handle is the best option.  The “Access” flosser from Johnson and Johnson is a very good tool and makes the job a lot easier!

      Thanks for the post,

      Michelle

  6. D. W. Mann

    Electric toothbrushes are definitely the way to go if you want to get a good job done quickly it also makes it a little more fun for kids as it can be seen as a toy for them. Personally, I am not a huge fan of fluoride. I have seen the hazmat sheets on the chemical. It has been shown to make teeth stronger but also is known for aiding in making the teeth brown. That seems to be why there are so many whitening products out at the same time there was an explosion of fluoridated products. You brought up a great point though, Don’t send children to bed with a bottle unless it is water. That seems to be a bad habit that a lot of parents get into to try and calm a fussy child. In the end, it just isn’t worth it for the children’s health. Thanks

    1. Michelle

      D. W. Mann,

      I appreciate your comments about Children’s Dental Health- Helpful Tips For Parents.  I agree that electric toothbrushes are far superior in plaque removal than a manual toothbrush.  They are fun, effective and have built-in timers to allow for a full 2 minutes of brushing.  Many clinical studies have proven that the time spent is the most important factor.   it is not as important when considering the technique used to brush as it is to consider the amount of time spent brushing when evaluating plaque removal.  Fluoride is a controversial topic and best to be discussed with your dentist.  You need to consider benefits of fluoride while also keeping in mind the risks of its use such as damage of fluorosis from ingesting too much.  Fluorosis is definitely a growing concern for parents.

      Thank you very much,

      Michelle

  7. Chrissie Spurgeon

    Your tips are so helpful to anyone with their first child who is not sure about the best way to take care of their baby’s teeth, and also to teach a small child how to care for their own teeth when they are old enough to do that.

    I have never before heard of a tongue cleaner, but I think that is a great idea. I always taught my children to brush their tongue as well as their teeth, but a tongue cleaner would have been better!

    Your schedule of when the various teeth can be expected to appear is also very helpful.

    Early teeth hygiene habits can last life-long, so they are vitally important.

    Very many thanks for your really helpful post.

    Chrissie 🙂

    1. Michelle

      Chrissie,

      Starting early is so very important when it comes to developing life long habits.  Many adults struggle to this day with their oral hygiene habits because they were not started as a child.  Your children will thank you as adults for taking the time to invest in their future when they were young!

      Regards,

      Michelle

  8. Olivia John

    Dental health for kids is a top priority indeed. Nice-looking teeth make a huge difference in the confidence of kids throughout their lives; it’s smart to get them started young. Parents should find dentists specially trained to handle the specific needs of kids to ensure quality care.

    1. Michelle

      Olivia,
      Yes, I agree. Dental health should definitely start young for our children. It is wise to establish a dental home where they can feel comfortable and taken care of. Sometimes a specialized dentist trained to take care of children is what is needed to provide such care. This dentist is a pediatric dentist. When children can smile with a healthy smile it builds confidence within them that lasts a lifetime.
      Michelle

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