Not Enough Children Seeing the Dentist Early
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that all children should see the dentist by their first birthday. According to a recent study, 75 percent of parents are not following these guidelines.*
Tooth decay is largely preventable, but it remains one of the most common diseases of childhood – even more than asthma and hay fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The simple truth is as soon as you have a tooth, you have the possibility of getting decay. Dentists want to see children as early as possible to ensure proper oral hygiene, assess growth and development and educate parents on overall oral care including eating and drinking habits.
Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has acknowledged the significant impact dental caries has on the health of young children and the important role pediatricians play in dental disease prevention.
“Because the youngest children visit the pediatrician more often than they visit the dentist, it is important that pediatricians are knowledgeable about the disease process of dental carries…[and] prevention of the disease.”
AAP recommends parents should:
- Discourage putting a child to bed with a bottle. Establish a bedtime routine conducive to optimal oral health (e.g., brush, book and bed).
- Wean from a bottle by one year of age. Limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes.
- Avoid carbonated, sugared beverages and juice drinks that are not 100 percent juice.
- Limit the intake of 100 percent fruit juice to no more than 4 to 6 ounces per day.
- Encourage children to drink water between meals.
Dental care reminders for kids up to 2 years of age:
- Before teeth erupt, clean baby’s mouth and gums with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush at bath time.
- Once teeth erupt, brush them gently with a soft child’s size toothbrush and a ‘smear’ of fluoridated toothpaste twice a day.
- At bedtime, give nothing by water. Any sugary liquids or carbohydrates (milk, formula and fruit juice) expose teeth to bacterial acid all night long.
- Take your child to the dentist by his/her first birthday.
*CDA Journal, Vol 43, April 2015
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