February is Children's Dental Health Month. Since I am a dental hygienist and mother, I feel obligated to help educate families on proper oral health for children. Personally, we all use electric toothbrushes made by Oral B - yes, even the baby! The best one out is the Triumph.
Check out this website with fun crafts for kid's dental health.
The Basics
1. Protect Your Baby's Teeth with Fluoride
Fluoride (said like floor-eyed ) protects teeth from tooth decay and helps heal early decay.
- Fluoride is in the drinking water of many towns and cities.
Ask your dentist or doctor if your water has fluoride in it. If it doesn't, talk to your dentist or doctor about giving you a prescription for fluoride drops for your baby.
2. Check and Clean Your Baby's Teeth
Check your baby's teeth
Healthy teeth should be all one color. If you see spots or stains on the teeth, take your baby to your dentist.
Clean your baby's teeth
as soon as they come in with a clean, soft cloth or a baby's toothbrush. Clean the teeth at least once a day. It's best to clean them right before bedtime.
At about age 2, most of your child's teeth will be in. Now you can start brushing them with a small drop of fluoride toothpaste. Use a drop of toothpaste about as big as this -- 
Young children cannot get their teeth clean by themselves. Until they are 7 or 8 years old, you will need to help them brush. Try brushing their teeth first and then letting them finish. And be sure that you put the toothpaste on the brush----use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
3. Feed Your Baby Healthy Food
Choose foods that do not have a lot of sugar in them. Give your child fruits and vegetables instead of candy and cookies.
4. Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
During the day, do not give your baby a bottle filled with sweet drinks to use like a pacifier.
If your baby uses a pacifier, do not dip it in anything sweet like sugar or honey.
Severe Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
5. Take Your Child to the Dentist
What are dental sealants?
Sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
Sealants are put on in dentists' offices, clinics, and sometimes in schools. Getting sealants put on is simple and painless. Sealants are painted on as a liquid and quickly harden to form a shield over the tooth.
How are sealants put on?
 1. The tooth is cleaned. |  2. The tooth is dried, and cotton is put around the tooth so it stays dry. |  3. A solution is put on the tooth that makes the surface a little rough. (It is easier for the sealant to stick to a slightly rough surface.) |
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|  5. The sealant is applied in liquid form and hardens in a few seconds. |  6. The sealant is in place. |
Why get sealants?
The most important reason for getting sealants is to avoid tooth decay.
Fluoride in toothpaste and in drinking water protects the smooth surfaces of teeth but back teeth need extra protection. Sealants cover the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and keep out germs and food.
Having sealants put on teeth before they decay will also save time and money in the long run by avoiding fillings, crowns, or caps used to fix decayed teeth.
What causes tooth decay?
Germs in the mouth use the sugar in food to make acids. Over time, the acids can make a cavity in the tooth.
Of course a healthy tooth is the best tooth. So it is important to prevent decay. That's why sealants are so important.
Why do back teeth decay so easily?
The chewing surfaces of back teeth are rough and uneven because they have small pits and grooves. Food and germs can get stuck in the pits and grooves and stay there a long time because toothbrush bristles cannot brush them away.
Who should get sealants?
Children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as the teeth come in -- before decay attacks the teeth.
The first permanent molars -- called "6 year molars" -- come in between the ages of 5 and 7.
The second permanent molars -- "12 year molars" -- come in when a child is between 11 and 14 years old.
Other teeth with pits and grooves also might need to be sealed.
Teenagers and young adults who are prone to decay may also need sealants.
Should sealants be put on baby teeth?
Your dentist might think it is a good idea, especially if your child's baby teeth have deep pits and grooves.
Baby teeth save space for permanent teeth. It is important to keep baby teeth healthy so they don't fall out early.
Does insurance pay for sealants?
Some health insurance programs pay for sealants. Check with your state Medicaid program or your insurance company for details.
How long do sealants last?
Sealants can last up to 10 years. But they need to be checked at regular dental check-ups to make sure they are not chipped or worn away. The dentist or dental hygienist can repair sealants by adding more sealant material.
What if a small cavity is accidentally covered by a sealant?
The decay will not spread, because it is sealed off from its food and germ supply.
Are sealants new?
No, sealants have been around since the 1960s. Studies by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and others led to the development of dental sealants and showed that they are safe and effective.
But many people still do not know about sealants. In fact, fewer than 25 percent of children in the United States have sealants on their teeth.
Besides sealants, are there other ways to prevent tooth decay?
Yes. Using fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water can help protect teeth from decay.
Water is fluoridated in about two-thirds of cities and towns in the United States. If your water is not fluoridated or if your children's teeth need more fluoride to stay healthy, a dentist can prescribe it in the form of a gel, mouthrinse, or tablet.
Fluoride is the best defense against tooth decay!
Fluoride...
- makes teeth more resistant to decay
- repairs tiny areas of decay before they become big cavities
- makes germs in the mouth less able to cause decay
Fluoride helps the smooth surfaces of the teeth the most. It is less effective on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Regular brushing -- with fluoride toothpaste -- also helps prevent tooth decay.
Sealants and fluoride together can prevent almost all tooth decay.
How can I get dental sealants for my children?
Talk to your dentist, state or local dental society, or health department. Sometimes sealants are put on at school. Check with your school about whether it has a sealant program.
Types of periodontal diseases in children
Chronic gingivitis is common in children. It usually causes gum tissue to swell, turn red and bleed easily. Gingivitis is both preventable and treatable with a regular routine of brushing, flossing and professional dental care. However, left untreated, it can eventually advance to more serious forms of periodontal disease.Aggressive periodontitis can affect young people who are otherwise healthy. Localized aggressive periodontitis is found in teenagers and young adults and mainly affects the first molars and incisors. It is characterized by the severe loss of alveolar bone, and ironically, patients generally form very little dental plaque or calculus.
Generalized aggressive periodontitis may begin around puberty and involve the entire mouth. It is marked by inflammation of the gums and heavy accumulations of plaque and calculus. Eventually it can cause the teeth to become loose.
Periodontitis associated with systemic disease occurs in children and adolescents as it does in adults. Conditions that make children more susceptible to periodontal disease include
- Type I diabetes
Down syndrome - Papillon-Lefevre syndrome
Signs of periodontal disease
Four basic signs will alert you to periodontal disease in your child: Bleeding Bleeding gums during tooth brushing, flossing or any other time |  Puffiness Swollen and bright red gums |  Recession Gums that have receded away from the teeth, sometimes exposing the roots |
| Bad breath Constant bad breath that does not clear up with brushing and flossing | ||
Adolescence and oral care
Evidence shows that periodontal disease may increase during adolescence due to lack of motivation to practice oral hygiene. Children who maintain good oral health habits up until the teen years are more likely to continue brushing and flossing than children who were not taught proper oral care.Hormonal changes related to puberty can put teens at greater risk for getting periodontal disease. During puberty, an increased level of sex hormones, such as progesterone and possibly estrogen, cause increased blood circulation to the gums. This may cause an increase in the gum's sensitivity and lead to a greater reaction to any irritation, including food particles and plaque. During this time, the gums may become swollen, turn red and feel tender.
As a teen progresses through puberty, the tendency for the gums to swell in response to irritants will lessen. However, during puberty, it is very important to follow a good at-home oral hygiene regimen, including regular brushing and flossing, and regular dental care. In some cases, a dental professional may recommend periodontal therapy to help prevent damage to the tissues and bone surrounding the teeth. Advice for parents
Early diagnosis is important for successful treatment of periodontal diseases. Therefore, it is important that children receive a periodontal examination as part of their routine dental visits. Be aware that if your child has an advanced form of periodontal disease, this may be an early sign of systemic disease. A general medical evaluation should be considered for children who exhibit severe periodontitis, especially if it appears resistant to therapy.
Many medications can dry out the mouth or pose other threats to oral health. Be sure to tell your dental professional about any medications your family members are taking.
Monitor your family to see if anyone has the habit of teeth grinding. Grinding can increase the risk of developing periodontal disease, in addition to causing cracked or chipped teeth. Dentists can make custom-fitted night bite guards to prevent teeth grinding at night.
Researchers suggest periodontal disease can pass through saliva. This means that the common contact of saliva in families may put children and couples at risk for contracting the periodontal disease of another family member. If one family member has periodontal disease, all family members should see a dental professional for a periodontal evaluation.
The most important preventive step against periodontal disease is to establish good oral health habits with your child. There are basic preventive steps to help your child maintain good oral health:
- Establish good oral health habits early. When your child is 12 months old, you can begin using toothpaste when brushing his or her teeth. However, only use a pea-sized portion on the brush and press it into the bristles so your child won't eat it. And, when the gaps between your child's teeth close, it's important to start flossing.
- Serve as a good role model by practicing good oral health care habits yourself.
- Schedule regular dental visits for family checkups, periodontal evaluations and cleanings.
- Check your child's mouth for the signs of periodontal disease, including bleeding gums, swollen and bright red gums, gums that are receding away from the teeth and bad breath.
If your child currently has poor oral health habits, work with your child to change these now. It's much easier to modify these habits in a child than in an adult. Since your child models behavior after you, it follows that you should serve as a positive role model in your oral hygiene habits. A healthy smile, good breath and strong teeth all contribute to a young person's sense of personal appearance, as well as confidence and self-esteem.
Find Out More
- Consult a periodontist: Periodontists are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease and can help you protect your family's oral health.
- National Children's Dental Health Month Press Release: The AAP press release "Don't Brush Off Importance of Children's Oral Health" provides parents with tips in taking care of their children's mouth.
- Video News Release: The AAP video news release features Michael McGuire, D.D.S., president of the AAP, and David Woolweaver, DDS.
- View an AAP brochure on Periodontal Diseases in Children and Adolescents that includes step-by-step instructions on proper brushing and flossing methods.
- Get oral care tips: The AAP press release "Tips to Help Families Achieve Optimal Oral Health" suggests ways to avoid or treat periodontal disease.
- Read abstracts from the Journal of Periodontology reporting the latest research on children's oral health issues.
- Read a scientific paper
: The Academy's position paper "Periodontal Diseases of Children and Adolescents" provides a brief summary of clinical knowledge in this area. - Visit the AAPD Web site: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's Web site has extensive parent information as well as kids-only features.
- Interactive Games and Puzzles: The American Dental Association's Web site includes fun activities on dental health for children.
