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HOME/Healthy Living/6 Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay in Kids

6 Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay in Kids

6 Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay in Kids
February 23, 2017
Sarat Thikkurissy, DDS
15 Comments

When you think about the most common infectious disease in children, tooth decay probably isn’t what comes to mind first. However, 51% of Ohio children have it. Tooth decay in kids is responsible for the loss of over 51 million hours of school.

The surgeon general has called tooth decay the silent epidemic – yet it is anything but ‘silent’. Studies suggest the pain from a toothache is equal to that of a broken arm or leg.

The good news is that tooth decay can be prevented. It’s important to know how it’s caused in order to avoid it. Tooth decay is the perfect storm of:

  • Having teeth. Even a 12-month old with one tooth can get a cavity.
  • Frequency of sugar exposures. Some state health data suggest up to 20% of children have soda in their sippy cups!
  • Lack of tooth brushing and fluoride exposure, or poor tooth brushing.

So what are the best strategies to prevent tooth decay? Here are six tips.

6 Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay in Kids

  1. Create a tooth brushing routine. Children respond positively to the creation of routines. A child who gets in the habit of brushing will carry that forward into adolescence and beyond. Children may initially resist, but most will eventually concede to the routine with consistent reinforcement.
  2. Help kids ages eight years old and younger brush their teeth, but supervise until age 11. The eight year marker is approximate, but until children are able to tie their own shoes, they don’t have the skills to brush their own teeth. By helping, parents can ensure that no food is left behind, which can lead to cavities. Even after children are able to brush their own teeth, parents should be supervising to ensure children are doing a good job.
  3. Visit the dentist regularly. Kids’ dentist appointments are just as imperative as adult’s. We will reinforce that oral health is a critical part of overall health, as well as check for early signs of tooth decay. We’ll also give parents strategies for taking care of their children’s teeth, and issues like dental trauma and snacking.
  4. Brush with fluoride. Buy toothpaste with fluoride for children two years old and up. Follow the recommended amount on the packaging – and then don’t rinse! Have your children simply spit out the excess toothpaste. This will allow the fluoride to stay on their teeth, adding extra protection. Your dentist may recommend starting fluoride toothpaste for kids younger than two, but will give you specific instructions.
  5. Limit sugar intake. The amount of sugar that is in kids’ drinks and diets directly relates to the rise in tooth decay. Here’s a previous blog post with simple ways to reduce it. If you have questions about what nutrition your children need, their doctor is the best place to start.
  6. Model good behavior. One of the best things parents can do for their kids’ oral health is to take care of their own! Seeing a parent value their teeth reinforces its importance. Make it a family event – let children see how the whole family doesn’t go to bed until teeth are brushed.

Tooth decay can lead to nights of pain, poor school performance and in some children, behavioral issues. Following the above six tips can help children avoid infection, the loss of a tooth and even hospital admissions due to cavities.

The Division of Dentistry at Cincinnati Children’s sees over 34,000 children a year for their oral care. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, call 513-636-4641 or visit our website.

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TAGS:
  • dentistry
Pediatric dentist Sarat Thikkurissy, DDS, MS, MA

About the author: Sarat Thikkurissy, DDS

Sarat Thikkurissy, DDS, MS, is a pediatric dentist who cares for infants, children, adolescents and patients with special health needs. He also works with the Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency to provide oral health to patients with cancer, Fanconi anemia, telomere disorders, epidermolysis bullosa and those undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

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Comments

Dawaiyatra March 29, 2017 at 6:11 am

Thank you for sharing this article. An extremely informative article

A Parent’s Guide: Learn the Basics About Proper Dental Care for Your Kids – Eco Karen April 20, 2018 at 7:41 am

[…] of the best ways that you can do to prevent a child from having tooth decay is to help them become enthusiastic about their daily dental hygiene. Tooth brushing probably is […]

Emily joshua July 16, 2018 at 1:09 am

Great.
Some tips to protect your kids form tooth decay:
Establish a Dental Home
Say ‘No’ to the Bedtime Bottle
Begin a Good Cleaning Routine Early
Brush and Floss Together
Build a Mouth Healthy Diet

Jessica Parker August 30, 2018 at 11:43 am

Flossing once a day is also something that can really help! Food gets stuck in-between teeth and doesn’t always come out with brushing twice a day. I just switched dentists because I have a new insurance provider through Insurance Line One and I learned how important fluoride, and flossing is on top of brushing twice a day. Thanks for the post these are great tips!

Temporomandibular Joint Surgery Boise ID October 29, 2018 at 3:07 am

Great tips! I think the problem of tooth decay should be solved properly and it is the duty of the parents that they give it much importance. The tips were quite nice and easy to follow by all. Thank you very much for sharing this. It is very helpful for us to know about!

tooth filling Brookline MA January 28, 2019 at 12:44 am

Dental health is very necessary for ourselves because it is a part of our health. If we did not take care of our health so it will effects us very badly. So we should take care our dental health for our beautiful and healthy smile. Thanks for sharing.

4 Ways to Prevent Tooth Decay in Midlothian Children - Dr. Alex Hawkins February 27, 2019 at 4:03 pm

[…] https://blog.cincinnatichildrens.org/healthy-living/6-tips-prevent-kids-tooth-decay/ […]

Linda Williams April 9, 2019 at 12:39 pm

Thanks for sharing! Keep your teeth strong, your smile bright, and stay healthy with these dental care tips!
Linda Williams

Teeth Treatment April 23, 2019 at 5:43 am

I really liked how you have mentioned that if we take care of our oral health and hygiene, then our children will also do the same. Will also start a routine so that brushing becomes a daily habit to prevent dental problems.Thanks for the dental tips.

chetana more April 26, 2019 at 6:03 am

Thank you so much for sharing this helpful information

dental fluoride Appleton June 4, 2019 at 3:07 am

Thank for this great post it is so good and helpful for oral children dental care which is very necessary than other health. I am so glad you shared this article here which has these good useful tips and information about children dentistry. Thank you so much for sharing.Please keep us update.

Aayushi April 27, 2020 at 3:27 am

Tooth decay does not happen overnight and takes some time to develop completely .

AstoCare June 13, 2020 at 7:41 am

Thanks for sharing an amazing tips for prevention of cavity. Cavity is not a thing that occurs overnight. So to get rid and avoid from having it, we have to follow this tips regularly.

Dr. Las V April 17, 2023 at 4:33 am

As a parent, preventing tooth decay in children is a top priority. This blog post provides 6 useful tips that can easily be incorporated into a child’s oral hygiene routine. From avoiding sugary drinks to regular dental checkups, it’s great to see such practical advice being shared.

Saran May 9, 2023 at 5:18 am

Thank you for sharing such unique and useful information, and great article.

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