Nothing’s cuter than a baby’s gummy smile with his first tooth shining through. Children’s dental health starts here. By the time that baby reaches four years old he’ll have a mouthful of teeth useful for chomping down on his favorite foods and smiling for mom’s camera. But did you know that tooth decay is the most common chronic illness in children age 6-12? And that 50% of children will have had a cavity by the time they are five years old?

Yes, children lose those tiny baby teeth over time, but tooth decay and early loss of teeth can lead to eating problems, speech delays, and crooked adult teeth. The great news for our kids is that most tooth decay can be prevented. While the best dental hygiene habits start early, it’s never too late to adopt new routines to protect your child’s remaining baby teeth and growing permanent teeth.

Need some help? Start with these ten tips for children’s dental health.

• Start early by wiping your infant’s gums with a clean damp washcloth at least once a day.
• Model great oral hygiene habits by brushing your own teeth twice a day and visiting your dentist twice a year.
• Do not allow your child to sleep with bottle or sippy cup of milk or juice. Sweet liquids sitting on your baby’s teeth and gums all night
• As soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, use a child’s toothbrush with a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of salt to brush her teeth twice a day.
• Schedule your child’s first dental visit within 6 months after their first tooth erupts or no later than their first birthday.
• Find a dentist your children (and you) enjoy seeing.
• At the age of three-years-old, you can start using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and start teaching your child to spit the toothpaste out, not swallow it.
• Find a flavor of toothpaste your child likes to encourage him to brush twice a day.
• Choose a toothbrush featuring your child’s favorite character to encourage brushing each day.
• Continue brushing your child’s teeth until they are able to brush them on their own (usually around 6-8 years old).
• Reduce the amount of sugar in your child’s diet and instead focus on crunchy fruits and vegetables as well as cheese, lean meats, and nuts.

People shy away from dental visits because of fear of pain or fear of the bill. Regular dental visits reduce the need for dental repairs and dental pain. Mantachie Rural Health Care’s dental clinic works off the same sliding scale we use in our clinic, which means you can receive the dental care you need at a price you can afford. Call us today (662) 282-4226 or 662-282-4335 to make your appointment.