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Tooth decay is preventable. Tooth decay is caused by sugars left in your child's mouth that are turned into an acid by bacteria in the mouth, which can break down your child's teeth. The cavity-causing bacteria are transferred from the mother, father or caregiver to the child by giving kisses, sharing utensils, etc. If you (the parent) have a high rate of decay, then you may try chewing gum that has xylitol in it. Recent research has shown that chewing gum with the natural sweetener of xylitol helps to reduce the formation of cavities. One such product is Epic gum (epic.com).

Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason – many children and adolescents tend to be lax in their oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines combined with regular dental visits with Dr. Clark help keep tooth decay away. Your child should be brushing their teeth at least two times a day with the second brushing right before bed and nothing to eat or drink following the bedtime brushing. Flossing is the only way to clean between teeth so flossing is recommended at least one time a day. A low-sugar diet also helps keep tooth decay at bay. Being aware of sugar content in sticky snack food such as fruit chews and raisins is also important.

Your child should visit Dr. Clark and her team every 6 months for regular dental cleanings, tooth exams, and growth and development exams. We recommend professional fluoride treatments twice a year along with cleanings to keep teeth their strongest.

Periodic Recare Visits

Your child should visit Dr. Clark and her team every 6 months for regular dental cleanings, tooth exams, and growth and development exams. We recommend professional fluoride treatments twice a year along with cleanings to keep teeth their strongest.  At each recare visit your child will have their medical history updated, radiographs taken as needed, and a dental prophylaxis (cleaning) performed by our Dental Hygienist.  Dr. Clark then performs a complete dental exam including caries screening, soft tissue exam, and evaluation of growth and development. 

As part of our caries screening process, our office utilizes Caries I.D. technology.  Caries I.D. is a pen-sized hand held device that utilizes LED technology to detect cavities in the earliest stages that can often be missed by traditional methods.  Early detection means more conservative treatment for your child.

Caries ID
Caries I.D.

Adopting Healthy Oral Hygiene Habits

As new teeth erupt, examine them every few weeks for lines and discoloration caused by decay. Remember that sugary foods and liquids can attack a new tooth, so make sure that your child brushes their teeth after feeding or eating. We recommend brushing at least two times a day: after breakfast and before bedtime. For optimal oral hygiene, you may brush your child's teeth: after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner, and at bedtime. Brushing can be fun, and you should brush your child's teeth as soon as the first tooth arrives. Before the first tooth erupts, you may clean your baby's gums with a damp washcloth. When a baby's tooth erupts, parents should brush the tooth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a very small amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste. Once your child is able to spit (between 2-3 years of age) then you may switch to fluoridated toothpaste, but using a small amount on the end of the bristles. We suggest reviewing proper tooth brushing procedures with your child.

  • » Click here to learn how to brush your teeth.

    You should brush your child's teeth thoroughly at least twice a day to remove plaque and to prevent tooth decay. Follow the steps below for proper brushing. Contact Dr. Clark and her team if you have any questions.

    1. Place your child's toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to their gums.
    2. Brush gently in a circular motion.
    3. Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.
    4. Use the tip of your child's brush for the inner surface of their front teeth.

    Children need help brushing their teeth until they are 7 to 8 years of age because they do not have the manual dexterity (hand coordination) to do a thorough job when they are younger. It is most important to help them brush their teeth before bedtime and to only allow water after the bedtime brushing. Their toothbrush should be changed out at least every 3 months. Children that are not able to properly spit out the toothpaste (under 2 ½ to 3 years of age) should be using fluoride-free toothpaste. Swallowing too much fluoride may cause enamel fluorosis on the developing permanent teeth which may appear as white or brown lines on the teeth.

Flossing is also a part of good oral hygiene habit. Dr. Clark recommends you start flossing your child's teeth when they are touching each other (when there is no space between the teeth).

If you notice signs of decay (discoloration of the teeth, holes in the teeth, teeth fracturing when there is no history of trauma), contact Dr. Clark immediately.

  • » Click here to learn how to floss your teeth.

    You should floss your child's teeth thoroughly at least once a day to remove plaque from the areas that their toothbrush cannot reach. Follow the steps below for proper flossing, and contact Dr. Clark and her team if you have any questions.

    1. Wind about 18 inches of floss around your fingers as shown. Most of it should be wrapped around one finger, and as the floss is used, the other finger takes it up. Waxed floss tends to work the best.
    2. Use your thumbs and forefingers to guide about one inch of floss between your child's teeth
    3. Holding the floss tightly, gently saw the floss between your child's teeth. Then curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it beneath their gums. Be careful not to cut the gums with the floss.
    4. Slide the floss up and down, repeating for each tooth.

    When you are flossing your child's teeth (or supervising them doing it) you may use the disposable flossers if they are easier for you. You may also have them lie down and place their head in your lap so you can see and access their back teeth more easily.

SealantsSealants

As much as 90% of decay occurs in pits and fissures in school-age children. The teeth at highest risk are the permanent first and second molars where fluoride has its least preventive effect on the pits and fissures. These are also the teeth where food and plaque traps in the deep grooves of the chewing surfaces of the teeth.

Tooth sealants are recommended because they "seal" the deep grooves in your child's teeth, preventing decay from forming in these hard-to-reach areas. Sealants are placed on the permanent molars after they fully erupt (the first permanent molars erupt around 6 years of age) and sometimes they are placed on the primary molars if the child will benefit from it. Sealants generally last 3 to 5 years, but will be monitored at your regular checkups. We recommend that patients do not chew on ice or hard candy after they have sealants placed because they can break off the sealants. The covering is only over the biting surface of the tooth, so areas on the side and between teeth cannot be coated with the sealant. For this reason, good oral hygiene, flossing and a good diet are still very important in preventing decay next to these sealants or in areas unable to be covered.

When New Teeth Arrive

Your child's first tooth erupts between ages 6-12 months and the remainder of their 20 primary or "baby" teeth typically erupt by age 3. During this time, gums may feel tender and sore, causing your child to feel irritable. To help alleviate this discomfort, we recommend that you soothe the gums by rubbing a clean finger or a cool, wet cloth across them. You may also choose to make use of a teething ring.

Your child's primary teeth are shed at various times throughout childhood, and their permanent teeth begin erupting at age 6 and continue until age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or 32 including wisdom teeth.

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