When to Eat / Not Eat Sweets
Every time your child snacks on foods and liquids, bacteria living on
the surfaces of the teeth are fed a sugary meal and quickly make acids
that work to dissolve enamel. The more times this happens during the
day, the more times the teeth will be attacked, even with brushing
and/or rinsing.
Grouping sweets with meals means fewer acid attacks on teeth. Water or
sugar-free foods and drinks are best for snack times outside of meals.
Sugary liquids, such as soda, punch, honey, fruit drinks, and juice,
should not be put into a bottle.
Preventing Dental Decay
The bacteria that live in parents’ mouths or in siblings’ mouths can be
transferred to a younger child. Bacteria can be transmitted between
family members, and dental decay can become a big problem for the whole
family. Make sure that your family does not directly share food, eating
utensils, or toothbrushes. Every member of a household needs to visit a
dentist on a regular basis.
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When to See a Dentist
Every
child should see a dentist before the age of two, so the dentist can
evaluate the child’s mouth and perform preventative care. These
check-ups should definitely be performed by the age of five. Children
who have had any decay or white spots should go to the dentist
every six months.
Fluoride
Fluoride
helps make the enamel of the tooth harder and stronger. There are many
ways to ensure you are getting enough fluoride for your teeth:
- Brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride helps prevent decay.
- Drinking fluoridated water helps developing permanent teeth grow stronger.
- Getting fluoride treatments at a dental office makes the teeth more resistant to decay.
Bedtime Teeth Cleaning
It is most important that your child go to sleep each night with clean
teeth. During those eight hours of sleep, saliva can help re-mineralize
weak areas when teeth are clean.
We encourage you to teach your child good brushing habits, but an adult
needs to brush and check the child’s teeth for good cleaning each day
before bedtime.