Q&A: Tips for National Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children's Dental Health Month in the United States, where tooth decay ranks as one of the most common chronic childhood diseases, according to the AAP.

The AAP recently published a list of 10 tips for parents to help prevent tooth decay in their children, including a recommendation to take children to the dentist by their first birthday or within 6 months of them getting their first tooth, and to wipe infants’ gums after each feeding even before they get their first tooth.

Healio spoke with David Krol, MD, MPH, FAAP, medical director of Connecticut Children's Care Network and vice president for health initiatives at the Child Health and Development Institute, about oral health.

Healio: What do parents overlook about their children’s dental health?
Krol: Sometimes, we as parents forget that “baby teeth” are important. Starting healthy habits early and visiting the dentist early will also protect the second set of teeth that come in. The other thing that we sometimes forget is how important being a good role model can be when it comes to oral health. We should take care of our own teeth, see our dentist and eat healthy foods. Our little ones watch us and learn. Finally, we sometimes think that because we had/have dental problems or were/are afraid of the dentist, our children will have “bad teeth” and also be scared of the dentist. It doesn’t have to be that way. By starting early with our kids, we can give them a more positive experience than we may have had.

Healio: What are the most common issues in this young population?
Krol: The most common issue is tooth decay called dental caries by pediatricians and dentists. Tooth decay can lead to cavities, but this is preventable by eating healthy foods, limiting sugar intake, brushing teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste and seeing the child’s dentist and pediatrician.

Healio: What are the recommendations for infants?
Krol: There are a few key recommendations for infants:

• If you are not breastfeeding, put only formula in a bottle before 6 months of age. At 6 months, you can put water in the bottle, between 4 and 8 ounces per day, but no sugary beverages.

• Do not put babies to bed with a bottle.

• Start brushing their teeth twice a day with a smear or grain of rice-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste as soon as the first tooth erupts.

• Schedule a visit with the child’s dentist when the first tooth erupts or no later than 1 year of age.

Healio: How can parents best maintain their child’s oral health?
Krol: Make brushing fun! Starting dental visits at an early age, before there are any problems, makes the visits enjoyable. The only thing that I would reiterate is how important starting healthy habits at a young age are for lifelong health. We, as parents, can make a world of difference for our kids by starting early and modeling healthy habits.