Dental decay (cavities) is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting 50 percent of children by middle childhood and more than 80 percent by late adolescence. Recent studies also show that periodontal (gum) disease continues to plague millions of children, with gingivitis occurring in 50 percent of four- to five-year-olds and continuing to increase with age.

Fortunately, most oral diseases can be prevented. The best way to ensure that your child does not get cavities or periodontal disease is to instill proper oral habits early. Good oral hygiene routines should be established as early as infancy and continued throughout life.

The First Years

Oral health care is a job that begins even before a child gets his/her first tooth. You can help your child get a head start on having a healthy mouth and smile by wiping your infant’s gums with a damp washcloth or gauze pad after each feeding to remove plaque and food residue. Also, parents should clean the infant’s baby teeth as soon as they come out with a soft cloth or baby toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

You should also avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle, unless it’s filled only with water. Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when children fall asleep with a bottle of milk, formula, juice, or other sweet liquid in their mouths. It can also develop when children fall asleep while breastfeeding. The sugars from these liquids are left lingering on the child’s teeth. Using these sugars as food, the bacteria in the mouth produce acids that attack the teeth, causing decay.

The Later Years

At age two or three you can begin to teach your child proper brushing and flossing techniques. But remember, you will need to monitor brushing and flossing until age seven or eight, when the child has the dexterity to do it alone. Often there are natural spaces between the primary teeth to hold the place for the permanent teeth. If spaces are present, you do not need to begin flossing until the teeth touch. (This may occur in the molar areas first and you should floss your child’s teeth until s/he is six or seven years old or until he/she can tie his/her own shoelaces). Then you should monitor their techniques and consistency.

Smile Savers

Some oral health practices should begin from day one and continue through the teenage years. You should change your child’s toothbrush three to four times a year, and after every illness to avoid bacteria and germs.

Nutrition is another, often overlooked area that can have an important impact on your child’s oral health. It is important at any age to keep a balanced diet if you want to reap the rewards of good oral health. No food is harmful in itself if a good balance is maintained. Lean meat, fish, poultry and beans provide iron and protein for overall good oral health, and magnesium and zinc for strong teeth and bones. Dairy products provide calcium and vitamin D for teeth and bones. Bread and cereal supply vitamin B for growth and iron for healthy blood, which in turn contributes to healthy gum tissue and overall good oral health. Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of vitamins, such as vitamin C, which is essential for good gum and oral health. You also should limit the amount of sugar children can eat by encouraging them to eat fruits and vegetables for snacks instead of sweets and cookies. Also, limit snacking between meals, and make sure they brush afterward.

Set a good example for your child by brushing, flossing, eating healthy foods, and scheduling regular oral health visits for yourself. And finally, continually remind your child about the benefits of good oral health and stress the role that nutrition plays in maintaining it.

Teaching the proper way of tooth brushing is the first step of your child’s oral hygiene. Your child’s oral health, the health of his or her teeth, mouth, and gums, depends on how often and how well your child brushes his or her teeth. Brushing teeth correctly removes bacteria that promote tooth decay and gum disease.