To celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month, Dr. Grace Yum, owner and founder of Yummy Dental and Orthodontics shared five easy steps to help your child avoid cavities.
Did you know that childhood cavities are the #1 childhood disease, even more prevalent than childhood asthma, childhood obesity, and juvenile diabetes?
Here are 5 easy steps to help your child:
Brush two to three times per day and floss every night.
Use a spin brush or electric brush – they are infinitely more effective than regular brushing to removing cavity-causing plaque!
Use an age-appropriate toothpaste.
Children under age 2: use non-fluoride toothpaste that is safe to swallow. This is sometimes sold as training toothpaste.
For ages 2 and up: use tooth-paste that has fluoride. If your child cannot yet spit, then only use a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice.
For ages 6 and up: add mouthwash to your routine.
Visit a pediatric dentist every six months.
Enamel in kids’ teeth are different than adults’ teeth. Cavities can spread very quickly in kids.
Ask for digital x-rays.
They are safer because they reduce exposure to radiation by 70% or more compared to traditional x-rays.
Remember that it’s not just candy that causes cavities.
Do not send babies to bed with a bottle of milk – milk contains sugar.
Avoid too much juice due to its sugar content – the AAPD recommends no more than 4oz/day.
Avoid snacks that stick to teeth such as dried fruit or candy.
For more details and tips, check out Yummy Dental’s Blog!
