April 09, 2004

By: Rachel Zelmer
Website: http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com

Children's Dental – Get Them Started Off Right

Good dental care and dental hygiene are vital to good overall health. Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a good-looking smile. Baby teeth also keep a space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. When a baby tooth is lost too early, that space is not maintained. This can cause the permanent teeth to come in crooked or crowded.

Follow these tips to ensure that your child's healthy, beautiful smile will last a lifetime:

• The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a visit to the dentist within six months of the eruption of the first tooth, and no later than the child's first birthday.
• Begin cleaning your baby's mouth during the first few days after birth. After every feeding, wipe the baby's gums with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque.
• Never allow an infant to nurse continuously from a bottle of milk, formula, sugar water or fruit juice during naps or at night. Serious "baby bottle tooth decay" can be a result.
• If child needs a comforter between regular feedings, at night, or during naps, fill a bottle with cool water or give the child a pacifier recommended by your dentist or physician. Never dip the pacifier in any sweet liquid.
• Parents need to brush and floss their child's teeth as soon as they come in. Children can learn to do this for themselves at about age seven.
• When your child's permanent molars come in, ask about sealants if the pits and fissures in the teeth are deep.
• Allow your child to chew only sugarless gum. Avoid lollipops and other sticky candy. If a child plays sports, make sure he or she always wears a mouth guard.




Author Notes:

Rachel Zelmer contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com.  Everything you need to know to get a whiter, brighter smile!