Oral Health for Children

It is never too early to start looking after your child’s mouth and teeth. Even before they get their first tooth, it is important to begin good oral hygiene habits. 

Early Childhood Tooth Decay

Children can get a cavity (tooth decay) as soon as their first tooth arrives. If a child develops tooth decay before the age of 6, this is called Early Childhood Tooth Decay (ECTD). It is also known as Early Childhood Caries (ECC).

ECTD is a severe form of tooth decay that can affect baby teeth, especially the upper front teeth. Tooth decay is the most common, yet preventable, childhood chronic disease in Canada and around the world.

ECTD is caused by food and liquid left in the mouth from feeding, including:

• milk
• juice
• breast milk
• drinks other than plain water

The sugars found in food and drinks combine with the bacteria in plaque to create an acid that damages the enamel of a tooth. The longer and more often food and drinks are left in the mouth, the greater the chance of developing tooth decay.

Untreated tooth decay can lead to pain and infection. It can affect your child’s sleep, as well as learning, speaking and eating abilities. Tooth decay can require treatment by surgery under general anaesthesia.

Treatment of dental problems is the leading cause of day surgery (under general anaesthesia) in Canada among children under the age of 5. It occurs more than ear tube placement and tonsil removal.

Preventing tooth decay

Preventing tooth decay for your child is very important. Take your child to an oral health professional by age 1, or within 6 months of their first tooth coming in.

Talk to your oral health professional about applying fluoride varnish to your child’s teeth to help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride varnish is a tinted liquid resin containing fluoride, that is applied to all visible enamel surfaces of the teeth.

After your child’s permanent teeth (adult teeth) begin to appear, talk to your oral health professional about having sealants applied. A sealant is a clear or tinted plastic covering put on the chewing surfaces of some teeth.

A sealant acts like a barrier and keeps food from getting stuck in the grooves and pits. This will help to keep teeth free from cavities. Sealants can be applied to permanent teeth as soon as they come into the mouth.

At home, you can help prevent tooth decay by establishing good oral health habits early.

Checking for Early Childhood Tooth Decay

You can check your child’s mouth for ECTD by lifting the lip and checking their teeth.

Visit an oral health professional with your child immediately if you see any:

• stained grooves or changes to the front teeth
• white, chalky or brown stains on your child’s teeth, especially near the gums

Early treatment can prevent the problem from getting worse and help maintain good oral health.

For more information, watch this helpful video on the “Lift the Lip” technique.

Cleaning your child’s mouth

There are different ways to clean your child’s mouth at different ages.

How to clean your baby’s mouth: 0 to 6 months old

Use these tips when cleaning your baby’s mouth:

• wrap a clean, soft, moist cloth around your pointer (index) finger and hold your baby in your arms
• gently wipe your child’s gums, starting at the back of the mouth and working toward the front, rubbing them and taking away any leftover milk or formula
• a small, wet and soft toothbrush should be used as soon as the first tooth appears in your child’s mouth
• clean your child’s mouth and teeth after each feeding, especially at night
• prevent prolonged contact between sugars in formula/breastmilk and teeth, especially at night
• as the mouth produces less saliva during sleep to rinse away acids, it becomes even more important to reduce the sugar intake before bedtime
• if you think of using pacifiers or soothers, they should never be dipped in honey or other sweeteners, as this increases the risk of tooth decay

The bacteria found in plaque can lead to the development of Early Childhood Tooth Decay. For this reason, it is important to remove plaque from your child’s mouth daily.

These bacteria can be transferred between you and your child or between your child and any other adult or child. Early transfer of these bacteria is considered a major risk factor for future tooth decay. To prevent this transfer of bacteria, avoid:

• sharing toothbrushes
• kissing your baby on the mouth
• sharing utensils and blowing on your child’s food

How to clean your child’s mouth: 6 months to 3 years old

Use these tips when cleaning your child’s mouth:

• when your child’s first teeth come in, use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush
• brush your child’s teeth, tongue and gums for 2 minutes, twice a day, most importantly before bedtime
• find out from your oral health professional if your child requires fluoridated toothpaste
• for children who are using fluoridated toothpaste, teach your child to spit out the excess toothpaste. Do not rinse the mouth with water after brushing so that the fluoride in the toothpaste continues to protect the teeth
• once your child’s teeth grow closer and are touching, start flossing your child’s teeth every day
• be smart about the liquids you put in your child’s bottle or open-lid cup. After 6 months of age, water is the best liquid to give your child if he or she is thirsty between meals
  • learning to use an open cup around one year of age is an important part of your child developing healthy feeding practices

For more information and tips about your baby’s oral health, consult this tip sheet.

How to clean your child’s mouth: 3 to 6 years old

When children can write (not print) their name, they are able to brush their teeth by themselves.

It’s hard for children to hold and move a toothbrush well enough to reach all teeth and areas of their mouth. You can help your children to brush their teeth by:

• brushing your child’s teeth, tongue and gums for 2 minutes, twice a day. It is especially important to brush before bedtime
• making it part of your daily routine to brush together, so your child can learn to brush their teeth by watching you
• using only a small amount (small green pea-sized or 5mm maximum) of fluoridated toothpaste
• teaching your child to spit out the excess toothpaste
• not rinsing the mouth with water after brushing so that the fluoride in toothpaste continues to protect the teeth
• flossing your child’s teeth every day once they grow closer and are touching. Do this until your child develops the ability to floss on their own (usually around 9 years old)

For more information and tips about your child’s oral health, consult this tip sheet.

Source

• Canada.ca

For more information

• Oral health tips for children aged 0–3
• Oral health tips for children aged 3–6