Developing Children's Dental Habits

Online, June 12, 2013 (Newswire.com) - A recent issue of General Dentistry stated something that Dr. Eric Echelman of White Plains has been telling his patients for some time now: oral health education is vital to preventing early childhood tooth decay and gum disease, both of which have been demonstrated to affect general health over a person's lifetime. Oral health, the health of teeth and gums, is so important to the health of the whole body and setting children up with the right habits as early as possible is very important.

It actually starts even before they're born. That starts with the mother's dental health. There are two reasons for this. The first is that expectant mothers with poor oral health may be at greater risk of developing toxemia or gestational diabetes, and their babies may be born prematurely and/or have a low birth weight. The second is that once babies arrive, parents can actually transmit oral bacteria to them simply by kissing, and later on by blowing on their food or sharing their eating utensils.

It is absolutely crucial to establish good home dental care early on. A child's first dental visit may not be until age one (approximately 6 months after the first tooth) but setting up early routines, like cleaning an infant's gums with a clean damp cloth after each feeding, are important. It is healthy for the gums and a clean mouth is less likely to create bacteria that could cause cavities even before first teeth come through. And although it might be easier said than done, from a purely dental point of view, it's best to wean a child by age one or close to it, if possible. This is to avoid baby bottle tooth decay caused by milk, juice, or sweetened liquid at naptime or bedtime, and to avoid teeth and bite misalignment due to sucking.The same bite issues exist with pacifiers, fingers, and thumbs, common comforts, which often continue after weaning.

Once those first baby teeth start to come in, Dr. Echelman recommends brushing them with a small soft-bristled toothbrush and water. The use of toothpaste before age two isn't recommended. Once toothpaste is introduced it is recommended that only a small amount of a mild-tasting paste as children can be sensitive to strong or spicy flavors like peppermint and cinnamon.

It's helpful to set up a little stool so that children can brush looking in the mirror "eye to eye" and reach the faucet without having to stretch. Proper brushing takes at least three minutes but that can be a long time for a child to focus, so help them work up to it gradually, though it may be necessary to follow up for awhile to ensure they were thorough. By the time they're five, if you take the time to help them establish good habits, children can be pretty confident and by six or seven they can brush at minimum twice a day on their own. For more information about childhood dental care visit Asnis & Echelman.