Tooth decay, even in the earliest stages of life, can have serious implications for a child’s long-term health and well-being – and it’s becoming a more pressing issue every day. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) comparing the dental health of Americans in 1988-1994 and 1999-2002 found a 15.2 percent increase in cavities among two- to five-year olds.
As an effective way to kick-start a lifelong program of preventative dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that dental visits begin around six months but not later than one year, or with the appearance of a child’s first tooth.
“The ‘first-tooth visit’ lets the pediatric dentist check for proper oral and facial development, see if the teeth are growing in properly, and detect early tooth decay,” says H. Pitts Hinson, president of the AAPD. “It also gives the dentist a chance to walk parents through a complete program of home dental care for the child.”
Early preventive care also is a sound health and economic investment. While parents may avoid taking a child to the dentist to save money, studies show that children who have their first dental visit before age one have 40 percent lower dental costs in their first five years than children who don’t.
In addition, without preventive care, the impact of tooth decay on child development can be striking. A study in the AAPD’s journal, Pediatric Dentistry, showed that children with cavities were significantly more likely to weigh less than 80 percent of their ideal body weight. Even more disturbing is evidence that the effects of poor oral health may be felt for a lifetime. Emerging research suggests that improper oral hygiene may increase a child’s risk of having low-birth-weight babies, developing heart disease, or suffering a stroke as an adult.
In addition to regular dental visits, the AAPD recommends that parents take the following precautions to help prevent tooth decay in children:
- Brush your child’s gums twice a day with a soft cloth or baby toothbrush and water even before the first tooth appears.
- Talk to your pediatric dentist about your child’s fluoride needs. Infants require fluoride to help developing teeth grow strong, and children who primarily drink bottled water may not be getting the fluoride they need.
- If you must put your child to sleep with a bottle, use nothing but water – other beverages can damage teeth, leading to cavities.
- Never dip a pacifier into honey or anything sweet before giving it to a baby.
- The best times for your child to brush are after breakfast and before bed.
- Limit frequency of snacking, which can increase a child’s risk of developing cavities.
- Take good care of your own teeth. Studies show that babies and small children can “catch” cavity-causing bacteria from their parents.