An element of tooth protection, plaque removal, should start as early as possible. Initially clean around the incisor teeth with a cotton wool bud or a small baby’s toothbrush, with only a tiny smidgen of toothpaste. But as the baby develops hand-to-eye coordination it is a good idea to give it a small toothbrush to play with at bath time, providing always that you also clean the teeth properly. Do remember to clean both the inside and outside of the teeth. An adult cleaning a child’s teeth at night is not an optional task. Like cleaning the face it has to be done, and is best accomplished by standing behind the small child, in the way that the dentist works from behind you in the surgery.

Using a fluoride toothpaste is always a good idea, providing it is only a smear until the child is capable of spitting it out rather than swallowing it. There have been cases of small children swallowing too much, and getting fluoridized mottled teeth. Always keep tooth-paste out of the reach of children, as they have a habit of eating it given half a chance. By the age of 6 or 7 most children should be able to clean their teeth adequately, even if the results still have to be checked by adults.

Fluoride can enter the tooth in two other ways. It occurs naturally in the water in some places in the UK, where it has been known to create the mottled teeth referred to above. It can also be added to the public water supply, as it has been in the West Midlands. Fluoride can also be administered personally in the form of tablets or drops. The tablets, which have pleasant flavours, are either crunched or allowed to dissolve, the drops are added to water. Children should not use either of these if they are also using fluoride toothpaste – it must be one or the other.

Although these fluoride additives not only protect teeth against decay but also repair very slightly decayed areas of tooth, they should only be used after consultation with your dentist or doctor. And you must always check on the local water supply to find the level of fluoride before embarking on a personal dosage course. You should not use them if the water contains more than 5 parts fluoride per million. And, if the family drinks a considerable amount of bottled water, the contents ought to be scrutinized for fluoride levels as well. In any event the drops should not be used until the baby is over 6 months old, and the tablets delayed until the child is over 2 years old, and again neither of them should be used if the child is already using fluoride toothpaste.

With such poor statistics, the obligation of parents to prevent tooth decay in their children cannot be overemphasized. After all, parents must serve as role models and look after the welfare of their children when it comes to matters of health, of which dental health is a big part. Keep in mind that good dental health is closely connected with good nutrition, good immunity and good mental well-being.

Start During Pregnancy

What many mothers do not realize is that good oral health starts from the moment their babies are conceived, both for mother and child. This is because strep bacteria from dental diseases can be transmitted from the mother to the baby in the womb. Thus, pregnant women are advised to practice good dental practices before and after delivery.

Upon birth, your baby will pick up the strep bacteria from the genitourinary tract while pick-up of said germs after delivery happen from kissing and direct contact with infected saliva. Studies have proven that mothers with frequent strep oral infections because of poor oral hygiene are more likely to infect their babies. Thus, in preventing tooth decay among babies, the mother must be very conscious of dental health.

Breast Milk and Infant Formula in Caries

The most significant modifier in the prevention of tooth decay in babies and children is their diet. Breast milk per se will not lead to tooth decay until such time that solid foods are introduced, in which case, dental hygiene must then be introduced. However, when your child is bottle-fed and carries a filled bottle in his mouth during the day and sleeps with one in his mouth at night, then there is a higher likelihood for inviting tooth decay and the strep bacteria into his mouth.

Start Early with Good Oral Hygiene

Of course, the best way in preventing tooth decay among children is to start them young on good oral hygiene. You have to teach them how to brush their teeth after every meal, use dental floss to clean between the teeth and eat only nutritious food. Sweets like chocolates, candies and soda must be kept to a minimum since their sugar contents are magnets for caries.