Healthwatch: Oral health and hygiene for young children

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - For this week’s Healthwatch, we are joined by Dr. Cara Hamilton, a pediatrician at Black Hills Pediatrics. Dr. Hamilton shared some wise advice for parents who want to make sure their toddler’s new teeth are healthy and hygienic.

“Oral hygiene is something that’s very important for all children even from the get-go,” said Dr. Hamilton. “Early on, before your child has teeth and with their early teeth you can wet down a washcloth and just wipe out their mouth once a day.”

Once young children’s teeth start coming in strongly, toothbrushes become a necessity.

“When they start to gather more teeth - and certainly by the age of one - it’s gonna be important to use a silicone toothbrush that would fit over your finger, or even just a toddler toothbrush with just a tiny amount of non-fluoride toothpaste,” Dr. Hamilton continued. She mentioned that this process should be done twice per day, and it was especially important to brush a young child’s teeth after having milk before bedtime.

Around the age of two, oral hygiene practices start to change.

By the age of two, children should probably start using fluoride toothpaste,” Dr. Hamilton explained. “Again, a small amount should be sufficient. Brush for them for a while because they just won’t have the fine motor skills to do it well until they’re older.”

The second birthday is a marker for another important development - this is when children should begin to visit a dentist.

“By two years of age, they need to be seeing a dentist twice a year. Most family dentists are seeing patients starting at that age. Pediatric dentists will see kids as soon as they erupt that first tooth, and that’s encouraged as well,” said Dr. Hamilton.

One more noteworthy topic that Dr. Hamilton shared with us was the type of foods and drinks that young children should avoid to avoid detrimental dental issues.

“To help prevent cavities and keep your child’s teeth healthy you’ll want to avoid sugary foods and sodas,” said Dr. Hamilton. “Fruit snacks are particularly bad for their teeth. If you have questions about oral hygiene and health make sure you’re talking to your dentist or your pediatrician.”

Check in next week for more professional advice. This has been your Healthwatch.

Copyright 2024 KEVN. All rights reserved.