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Dental Care
Healthy Tips for Kids
By MaryAnn Kaspor

Most people are unaware that dental caries is the most common disease affecting children. This disease process begins very early in life, and is more commonly known as dental cavities or decay, which is the result from the disease and not the disease itself. There are many ways to help prevent this disease process - dental caries (cavities or decay), in your child's teeth.

Here are four simple tips in preventing dental cavities:


 
1) As soon as your child´s first tooth erupts
it should be cleaned. There are a few ways in
which this can be done: simply wipe the child's
tooth with a washcloth, or use a dental finger
cot, or gently brush with a very small child's
tooth brush. The last two items can be
purchased where tooth care incidentals
are sold.		   2) Avoid putting a child to bed with a bottle. Even milk or juice
can be very harmful to the child's newly erupted tooth since both
contain sugar. Any sugary drinks or foods can contribute to this
disease, because sugar is the agent causing disease factor.
 
3) Living in an area with fluoridated water helps
prevent this cavity causing disease. Fluoride helps
strengthens the tooth structure. Children with a
positive disease determination can use over the
counter fluoride rinses at home.		   4) And least known, is the recommendation that small children
should have their first dental appointment when their first tooth
erupts or by their first birthday. In this way, a small child's risk for
caries can be determined then.
Knowing these simple facts can possibly curtail your child´s risk for dental caries and prevent this disease process in their teeth.