Staying on the Tooth Fairy’s good side

Val Janz, Executive Director

The Tooth Fairy is right, you know. Keeping our teeth clean and healthy is important – especially for children.  In fact, dental hygiene is a vital part of your child’s overall health – right from the start.

Primary, or baby, teeth begin to appear at four to six months of age. By two and a half, most children have all 20 baby teeth. These first teeth will eventually fall out (the molars stay until ages 11 to 12 years) to make room for permanent teeth. But their importance can’t be overstated.

Staying on the Tooth Fairy’s good side

Val Janz, Executive Director

The Tooth Fairy is right, you know. Keeping our teeth clean and healthy is important – especially for children.  In fact, dental hygiene is a vital part of your child’s overall health – right from the start.

Primary, or baby, teeth begin to appear at four to six months of age. By two and a half, most children have all 20 baby teeth. These first teeth will eventually fall out (the molars stay until ages 11 to 12 years) to make room for permanent teeth. But their importance can’t be overstated.

According to dental health experts, baby teeth are critical. Children need to keep them until they are ready to naturally fall out. For one thing, they are vital for chewing which is central to having a healthy diet and adequate body growth and development. But baby teeth also help with proper speech development and normal face and jaw growth.

Unfortunately, some adults believe that, because baby teeth will fall out anyway, early dental hygiene isn’t that crucial.  But, if not cared for, baby teeth will deliver grown up sized problems.

For one thing, baby teeth can get painful cavities. If you’ve ever had a toothache you know how much it hurts. According to the Canadian Dental Association, toothaches are the most common pain affecting the daily lives of Canadians. That includes children.

Tooth enamel may be the hardest substance in the body, but even it’s no match for plaque. Plaque is a sticky, whitish bacterial coating that forms on the teeth. Plaque uses sugars we eat to produce acid. It’s this acid that dissolves enamel and creates holes or cavities. Brushing regularly removes plaque and reduces the occurrence of cavities.

You can help your child remain on the Tooth Fairy’s preferred supplier list, by following these simple steps:

• Avoid allowing your infant to fall asleep with a bottle at bedtime or during a nap. If you must give your child a bottle at these times, fill it with water.
• Begin mouth care soon after birth. Wipe your baby’s gums with a clean, damp facecloth to remove lingering breast milk or formula and instil good oral hygiene habits early.
• Once baby teeth appear (usually between four and six months), clean teeth twice a day with a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste on an infant-size toothbrush or damp facecloth.
• After back molars appear, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on an infant toothbrush to clean teeth twice a day.
• Constant drinking from a sippy cup filled with juice, fruit drinks or even milk can cause cavities.  Offer water, fresh fruit, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers as healthy snacks. Avoid sticky snacks like dried fruit, fruit leathers, granola type bars and raisins.
• Provide hands-on help until about age 8 to ensure plaque is thoroughly removed and children learn to brush and floss properly.
• Begin dental visits early. Dental professionals recommend a first visit to the dentist occur around age 1.

The Kamloops Public Health office offers free dental clinics for children 1 to 3 years. For information on dates, or to get more information about dental health for your child, call Laura Leadbetter-Fuoco, Interior Health Authority community dental hygienist at 851-7300 or toll-free at 1-866-847-4372.