Children Teeth

Major Obstacles to Children’s Oral Health

Babies

“Baby bottle tooth decay”

  • Wipe gums with gauze or a clean washcloth and water after feeding. When teeth appear, brush daily with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpast
  • Put child to bed with a bottle of water, not milk or juice

Thumb sucking
Not a concern until about 4 years of age or when permanent teeth appear; after this time, it could cause dental changes

White spots on teeth
As soon as the first tooth appears (at about 6 months), begin cleaning the child’s teeth daily and schedule a dental appointment

Toddlers

Fear of the dentist
Hold the child in the parent’s lap during the exam>

Difficulty creating an oral care routine
Involve the whole family – brush together at the same time each day to create a good habit.

Grade Schoolers

Love of sweets
Give children health snack options, like carrots and other fresh vegetables, plain yogurt, and cheese

Stains from antibiotics
Speak to the paediatrician before any medication is prescribed

Teenagers

Braces
Make sure that teens brush well around braces, using a floss threader to remove all food particles

Oral accidents from sports
Encourage children to wear mouthguards during sports

The following are key preventive measures to preserve oral health through childhood

  • Fluoride treatments to strengthen tooth enamel and resist decay. This may include fluoride supplements in areas where drinking water is not optimally fluoridated. Be sure to ask your dentist about supplements to determine if they are needed.
  • Dental sealants to provide a further layer of protection against cavities. Sealants are made of plastic and are bonded to the teeth by the dental team.
  • A fun oral care regimen to help encourage children to brush more regularly. Kid’s Crest® Cavity Protection is a fluoride toothpaste with Sparkle Fun flavour just for kids. And the Oral B® Stages® Kids’ Power Toothbrush makes brushing fun, with popular Disney characters and a patented oscillating Power head.