Joy is:
A feeling of great pleasure and happiness, which we believe starts with a healthy smile!
A healthy smile for your child starts with overall oral health. Did you know the most common disease impacting children's oral health is tooth decay? Dr. Yaa McDonald takes this statistic seriously because she knows there are simple steps that can be taken to help prevent it. These steps start with useful information. Did you know kids with tooth decay in their baby teeth are more likely to get cavities in their permanent teeth? They are also more likely to have tooth loss later in life.
Because of this, Dr. Yaa McDonald wants to share some tips to help protect your child's teeth:
Year 1:
- Before Teeth: Use a clean washcloth to wipe the mouth daily
- After Teeth: As soon as you see the baby's first tooth, start to clean! You can use a baby toothbrush with a tiny amount of toothpaste that has fluoride. Since the ADA recommends your child see the dentist at the sign of their first tooth or first birthday, this is a great time to schedule their first appointment. Dr. Yaa McDonald is happy to send your baby home with their first toothbrush.
Year 1-2:
- Brush Daily: Daily brushing is important; make sure to brush your child's teeth twice a day.
- Toothpaste: Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with fluoride in it.
- Fluoride: Ask Dr. McDonald if she recommends fluoride treatment for your child. At Joyful Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we use Silver Diamine Fluoride. Painless, quick treatment time and effective cavity prevention are just a few of the several benefits of using this technique.
- Say goodbye to the bottle: It is best to have your baby off the bottle by age one and to use a sippy cup with water, only limiting sugary drinks such as juice to times of eating a meal.
- Watch Your Mouth: This is a significant age for you to check your child's mouth to make sure there are no spots and stains on the teeth.
- Dentist: Make sure to schedule your child for regular hygiene appointments.
Year 2-3:
- Brush Daily: Daily brushing is still essential, so make sure to brush your child's teeth two times a day.
- Juice: Limit juice drinks to 4-6 ounces per day (about half a cup). Most fruit juices have a lot of sugar that can cause tooth decay.
Year 3-6
- Brush Daily: Now your child is of the age you can start to teach them how to brush their own teeth. However, kids won't properly brush until they are about 6-8 years old, so make sure you're there to help.
- Juice: Limit juice drinks to 4-6 ounces per day (about half a cup). Most fruit juices have a lot of sugar that can cause tooth decay.
Dr. McDonald hopes these tips will help guide you through the stages of oral hygiene for your child and look forward to taking the journey to create JoyFul Smiles with you and your child!
