By Dr. Kenneth D. Pierson, D.D.S.
For Variety

I HEAR that a lot. “But they are just baby teeth, right? They are going to fall out...right?” Right…they are just baby teeth and they will eventually fall out. But they are still very, very important and they need to be taken care of! “Why?” you may ask. Let me share just a few reasons and then give you some tips on how to take care of your child’s teeth better.
The first baby or primary teeth to be lost occurs usually at 6 or 7 years old and the last ones to be lost occur usually at 11 or 12 years old. The primary teeth serve primarily for chewing of food but are also important for proper speech, normal looks and guiding the permanent teeth into the correct spot. If the baby teeth are not well maintained they will decay and may lead to infections (affecting over-all health), pain (causing inability to sleep or concentrate in school) and premature loss (causing loss of space and crowding of the permanent teeth). This, of course, is not good, but what is good, is it can be prevented! That’s right, it can be prevented. In fact, it is the number one preventable disease affecting children.
The first thing to understand about how to prevent dental disease in children is to understand that it must be adult or parent directed. Children do not naturally know how and why to take care of their teeth, it must be taught and emphasized by the parent. It is the parent’s responsibility to teach and guide the child in eating habits, brushing and flossing habits and to ensure regular visits to the dentist. The parent should make sure to brush and floss their child’s teeth at least once a day from the time the first teeth come in at 6 months until the child is able to do a good job brushing on their own at age 7 or 8. Another important tip is to never put your infant to sleep with a bottle containing anything but water. Milk or juices in the bottle feed the bacteria in your child’s mouth just before the saliva stops flowing when your child falls asleep. This leads to extensive decay called baby bottle tooth decay or early childhood caries. Another important tip is to not allow constant snacking or drinking (of anything but water) throughout the day. There is a very strong correlation between constant snacking and sipping sweet drinks and tooth decay. For strong teeth it is recommended to have nothing but water for at least a 2-3 hour period after eating a meal. My final tip in taking care of your child’s teeth is to make sure they are getting adequate amounts of fluoride. The correct amount of fluoride each day makes for much stronger teeth that are much more resistant to decay. It is recommended that every child from 1 year on take a doctor prescribed fluoride supplement.
February is Children’s Dental Health Month. It was instituted on the mainland to bring awareness and education about the issues facing children and their oral health.
For more information on how to take care of your child’s teeth better or for a free exam for your child, call the Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic at 234-6323