Healthy Teeth Keep Children Healthy: Tips to Avoid Tooth Decay

Teeth play an important role in a person's life - to remain healthy by helping in biting and chewing the food, and to hone oral skills by supporting in word formation.

Tooth-related problems are very common in childhood. Poor oral health during childhood can have a negative impact on the kid's overall health. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-fourth of American children aged between 2 and 5 experience tooth decay. Delaying or skipping dental treatment can lead to serious pediatric oral diseases and other long-term health problems in children.

So it is essential for parents to take care of their children's oral health from the earliest stages of their life. However, a survey conducted by American nonprofit organization the Advertising Council or Ad Council found that a significant number of American parents ignore or are not aware of how to take proper care of their children's oral health. It was found that less than half of American children don't follow good oral health habits, including brushing their teeth twice a day.

Concerned by the findings, Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) puts forward some recommendations for parents. According to them, parents and caretakers should start taking care of their children's teeth even before the first tooth erupts, by cleaning the little one's gums with a wet washcloth after each feeding.

Parents should make the first visit to the dental clinic six months after the first tooth emerges or before the child's first birthday.

"Childhood dental decay is largely preventable, and taking your child to see a dentist at an early age is the best way to prevent future oral health problems," AGD spokeswoman R. Claire Campbell said in a news release. "This will instill positive behaviors that will result in a lifetime of good oral health."

Following are some tips from the experts at AGD:

• Brushing the teeth should start shortly after the first tooth comes out. The toothbrush should be small and soft. Avoid toothpaste until the kid completes 2 years of age
• Encourage and teach the child to floss his/her teeth
• Putting the newborn under bottle-feeding at night should be avoided as it increases the risk of tooth decay
• Proper steps should be taken when a child sucks his/her thumb, since the habit starts affecting teeth position
• Children should be given tap or fountain water to drink. Always use a fluoride supplement or fluoridated water.

They also recommend that parents monitor their children's oral health through regular dental visits every six months.