Halloween time points to kids, tooth decay
Oct. 25, 20002

MARY KATHARINE MARONEY
Special to the Observer-Dispatch

With Halloween just around the corner, children and their parents are busy getting ready with costumes and candy.

Many children look forward to trick or treating and collecting bags or buckets of candy. Without putting a damper on this activity, it would be useful to take a look at the importance of dental health and taking care of children’s teeth.

First the good news: According to the National Health Interview Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children today have significantly less tooth decay in their primary, or baby, teeth than they did 30 years ago.

Also, in children age 2 to 10 years, there has been a 40 percent decrease in decayed primary teeth.

Now for the bad news: In 2000, the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health stated that dental and oral diseases have become a “silent epidemic” that, if untreated, can lead to problems in a child’s eating, speaking and ability to learn.

The report also identified lack of dental insurance as a major barrier for families in gaining access to dental care.

The cost of providing treatment for dental caries far exceeds the cost of prevention.

It may come as a surprise to many that caring for a baby’s gums and future teeth should begin soon after the baby is born. After each feeding (breast or bottle), it is recommended that the baby’s gums should be wiped with a soft, damp washcloth.

Once the baby’s teeth start to come in, usually between 4 and 7 months, it is time to begin using a soft baby or child-size toothbrush.

This also is a time to take extra care in preventing “baby bottle tooth decay” that can occur when a baby is consistently put to bed with a bottle containing milk, formula or juices. While the baby sleeps, the sweet or sugary liquid pools in the mouth and works with bacteria to erode the teeth.

Why is it so important to protect the primary teeth, when they are only going to fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth? These baby teeth not only help the child chew food and speak clearly, they also hold the space so permanent teeth can grow in straight.

When should children begin seeing a dentist? It is recommended that the first visit be made by the first birthday to check for any early dental problems and begin a prevention program.

By introducing a child to going to the dentist early, the child is less likely to feel frightened in the future.

The toddler or preschool child can be prepared for the first dental visit by telling the child the dentist or dental hygienist is going to look at “your shiny teeth so you can grow up with strong and healthy teeth.”

What else can be done to promote healthy teeth? Nutrition plays a major role. A healthy diet and eating habits lead to healthy teeth.

One of the biggest offenders in cavity formation is sweet, sugary snacks that stick to the teeth, such as candy, raisins and cookies. If such snacks are limited when the child is young, it is much easier to promote nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables.

Instead of ice cream, a healthy snack can be made by mixing low-fat yogurt with frozen blueberries. When mixed together, the yogurt thickens like ice cream.

Fruit juices are very popular with children and can be a healthy part of a child’s diet. The American Academy of Pediatrics, however,warns parents that fruit juice may be “too much of a good thing.”

Although fruit juices are a good source of vitamin C, they also contain a large amount of carbohydrate (sugar) and can contribute to tooth decay when consumed in large quantities. As a result, the May 2001 Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that:

• Fruit juice should not be given to infants before 6 months of age.
• After 6 months of age, infants should not get juice from bottles or cups that allow them to consume juice throughout the day.
• Infants should not get fruit juice at bedtime.
• For children ages 1 to 6, intake of fruit juice should be limited to four to six ounces per day.
• For children ages 7 to 18, juice intake should be between eight and twelve ounces a day.
• All children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits.

Additional information on caring for your children’s teeth can be found at the following web sites: American Dental Association at www.ada.org; American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry at www.aapd.org.

Mary Katharine Maroney, Ph.D., R.N., is director and associate professor of nursing at Utica College. Maroney may be reached via e-mail at mmaroney@utica.edu.