USA - Child dental crisis

Child dental crisis

by Patti Kirkpatrick
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 4:33 PM
PHOENIX -- The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reported this week we have a dental crisis, with 2 to 35 percent of children aged 2 to 5 showing tooth decay.
Dentists warn parents they need to get their little ones to a dentist at an early age, not only for the health of their teeth, but also to get them accustomed to and comfortable in the dentist’s chair.
“What we’d like to be able to do is try to have parents bring their child before they are 12 months of age," our now-retired pediatric dentist told me. "That’s for a checkup, of course, but also to teach them proper brushing and flossing techniques before they get their adult teeth, even if a parent helps out. Most children do need some help because they lack the manual dexterity to brush very well.”
Other ways to keep decay at bay? Limit sugary foods. Give sweets after meals not as snacks. For munchies, replace sweets with fruits or veggie sticks. And guess what? Even potato chips and pretzels can do damage because they stick to teeth.
“The carbohydrates and the starches still get broken down by the bacteria to the same simple sugars and create the same acid environment,” according to the dentist.
Also, avoid giving your baby juice or milk in a bottle or sippy cup.
“It’s the amount of time that the teeth are exposed to these juices or milk in a bottle that is the critical factor,” he said...........

NYSCOF - This after 65+ years of water fluoridation twhich has reached more people this year than ever.