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Oral Health in Children
Aka: Oral Health in Children, Infant Oral Health, Pediatric Dental Care, Dental Carie Prevention in Childhood, Care of the Teeth in Childhood
- See Also
- Oral Health
- Teething
- Primary Teeth
- Fluoride Supplementation
- Guidelines: Prenatal (Maintain maternal Oral Health)
- Lowers infant colonization of mutans streptococci
- Kohler (1994) Arch Oral Biol 39:907-11 [PubMed]
- Refer mother for Dental Caries or Periodontal Disease
- Preventive measures
- ToothBrushing and flossing
- Fluoride mouth rinse (e.g. ACT)
- Xylitol chewing gum qid
- Guidelines: Birth to 6 months
- Do not prop bottles
- Use only Breast Milk or formula in bottles (no juice)
- Avoid formulas that contain sucrose
- Guidelines: 6 months and older
- See Teething
- Dentistry referral
- High risk for caries: Start dental visits at 1 year
- Low risk for caries: Start dental visits at 3 years (some recommend 1 year start for all children)
- Fluoride dental varnish application yearly after Tooth Eruption
- Oral Exam at each Well Child Visit
- Child lies supine on table
- Examine from head of bed (intubation position)
- Observe for altered tooth appearance
- Yellow-Brown cavities or erosions in teeth
- White lines or spots in the enamel
- Preventive measures
- Introduce early Tooth Brushing
- Fluoride Supplementation if inadequate water supply
- See Fluoride Supplementation
- Tooth Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste
- Limit toothpaste amounts for young children
- Use no toothpaste or rice grain-size for under age 3 years old
- Use pea sized or less amount of toothpaste for ages 3-6 years old
- Age under 3 years: Parent brushes childs teeth without toothpaste (or rice-grain size)
- Age 3-6 years: Brush with pea-size amount of low fluoride toothpaste
- Age over 6 years: Brush with regular fluoride toothpaste
- Baby bottle related prevention
- Discontinue bottle after 12 months of age
- Avoid putting child to bed with bottle
- Encourage use of cup by age 1 year
- Wipe infant's teeth with moist cloth after feedings
- Dietary measures
- Schedule meals and snacks
- Avoid Simple Sugars outside of scheduled times
- Limit juice to <4-6 ounces per day
- Avoid carbonated beverages
- Only milk or tap water between meals
- References
- (2014) Pediatrics 134(6): 1224-9 [PubMed]
- Harris (2022) Am Fam Physician 105(3): 299-300 [PubMed]
- Nasir (2015) Am Fam Physician 92(4): 274-8 [PubMed]