Dentists urge guarding baby teeth from decay

CHICAGO — Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, according to the U.S. Surgeon General.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry encourages parents and caregivers to “Get it Done in Year One.” Visiting a pediatric dentist by the time the first baby tooth appears enables the child to begin a lifetime of preventive dental care, helping to minimize tooth decay and cavities. Studies show that dental costs for children who have their first dental visit before age 1 are 40 percent lower in the first five years than for those who do not see a dentist before their first birthday.

Baby teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay from their very first appearance, on average between 6 and 12 months. Pediatric dentists specialize in caring for these tiny teeth, imperative for proper speech development and nutrition. The specialized care offered by a pediatric dentist includes unique strategies for working with children that alleviate fear and anxiety through the use of positive reinforcement and behavior guidance. Pediatric dentists monitor babies’ growth and development and provide essential dentistry services including tooth cleaning, polishing and fluoride treatment.

For healthy smiles, dental care must be established in and out of the pediatric dentist’s chair. The AAPD recommends the following at-home methods for infant oral health care:

Clean infant mouths and gums regularly with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water.

Children older than 6 months need fluoride supplements if their drinking water does not contain enough fluoride. Fluoride supplementation in infants has been shown to reduce tooth decay by as much as 50 percent. Check with your pediatric dentist first.

Babies should be weaned from the bottle by 12-14 months of age and at-will breast feeding should be discouraged.

Baby teeth should be brushed at least twice a day with a toothbrush made for small children using a “smear” of fluoridated toothpaste.

Visit aapd.org for more information or to locate a pediatric dentist.