The most common chronic childhood disease is lurking under the radar of many parents: Dental cavities.
More than half of children between ages 6 and 8 years have had a cavity in at least one baby tooth, and an equal share of kids ages 12 to 19 years old have had a cavity in a permanent tooth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children from low-income families are twice as likely to develop cavities compared to children from higher-income households.
Here’s what to know about oral care for kids:
When should I first bring my child to the dentist?
By their first birthday. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants have their first dental check-up six months after their first tooth comes in. Teeth typically start coming in around six months, but some babies (especially girls) may get teeth earlier. After the first visit, children should have routine dental cleanings every six months — just like adults.
What’s the point of treating baby teeth that are going to fall out anyway?
Untreated cavities become painful and can affect your child’s long-term health. Cavities are bacterial infections, which means that as they grow, they can spread to other teeth, said Jason Bresler, who has a doctorate of medicine in dentistry and is part of the Philadelphia-area pediatric practice Doc Bresler’s Cavity Busters.
Children lose their baby teeth over several years — typically between ages 6 and 13 — which means a cavity in a baby tooth could spread to a neighboring adult tooth.
Large cavities can become infected or abscessed, which can lead to facial swelling and hospitalization in severe cases, if the infection spreads enough that it must be treated with IV medications.
A tooth that becomes infected because of an untreated cavity will have to be removed, which can affect the way a child eats and talks and how their adult teeth come in. Regular dental visits can prevent any problem spots from developing into major dental issues.
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How do I reduce the risk of cavities among kids?
Limit sugary foods, and floss and brush before bed.
Candy and sugary snacks significantly increase the risk of cavities. And juice is full of sugar, so don’t give your child more than 4 ounces of it a day.
Tooth-decaying sugar is also in lots of other foods that you don’t expect. Any food that’s high in carbohydrates can increase your chances of decay. Breads, pasta, chips, pretzels, juice, and soda are all cavity culprits. Carbs act as a fuel source for the bacteria in your mouth to create acid that eats away at your teeth, causing cavities.
Opt for fresh snacks, such as fruit and vegetables, or foods that pack a lot of protein, such as string cheese or yogurt, instead of processed foods, which tend to have lots of carbs and sugar.
When should I start helping my child brush teeth?
Start young, be consistent, and brush for young children, Bresler said. Start brushing your child’s teeth when they are an infant to help them get used to the activity and learn that it isn’t painful.
An evening brushing routine may be a struggle at first with toddlers and elementary school-aged children who aren’t accustomed to having to brush, but they will eventually adjust, Bresler said. Rewards, sticker charts, and toothbrushes with fun designs may help to get them excited about brushing.
Don’t let your child brush their own teeth until they’ve demonstrated they have the dexterity to do it and understand the responsibility of brushing daily.
What type of toothbrush is best for children?
A soft-bristle toothbrush is best. “No person, pet or living creature should use more than a soft-bristle toothbrush,” Bresler said. “The only thing a hard bristle brush is good for is cleaning the grout in your bathroom tile.”
Electric toothbrushes may be helpful for children because they can help clean difficult-to-reach spots and most have timers to let kids know when they’ve brushed long enough. But if your child is scared of the noise and vibration, stick to a traditional toothbrush.
Is fluoride toothpaste safe for children?
Yes. All current recommendations for pediatric dental care urge the use of fluoridated toothpaste in the proper amount. Children too young to spit will swallow the toothpaste you use, so apply just a smear — less than the size of a grain of rice — to their brush.
Some parents worry about fluoridated toothpaste because too much fluoride can be toxic. But commercially available toothpastes are formulated so that “even if you ate an entire tube of toothpaste — it would be toxic, but not lethal,” Bresler said.
To be clear, do not eat an entire tube of toothpaste.
But if you are concerned about the amount of toothpaste your child has swallowed, Bresler recommends giving them a big glass of milk, which will bind to the fluoride so that it can be excreted, instead of absorbed.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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Irregular sleep patterns, frequent feeding intervals, and near-constant soothing of newborns can all spell sleep deprivation for new parents.
In addition to being exhausted as a general matter of course, new parents are also tasked with navigating the best way to do things. Advice comes from every direction, and these disparate pieces of wisdom can make it difficult to discern truly helpful parenting tools from background noise, making finding a course of action for, say, maximizing sleep, hard to do.
That's where medical studies and well-established parenting hacks come in handy. Sunday Citizen looked at data on sleep, along with medical studies and websites, to curate a list of 10 sleeping tips for new parents. These nuggets of wisdom are extensively tried and tested, well-researched, and proven time and again to help ensure guardians can maximize what little sleep time they get—from choosing the proper sleep swaddle to creating a bedtime routine that will help everyone—baby included—fall asleep fast.
Proper sleep goes hand in hand with mental health; getting a good night's rest has been proven to aid in treatment for anxiety and depression during pregnancy and after birth, along with other treatment options. While you may not be able to control the frequency of middle-of-the-night wakeups, altering certain pre-bedtime habits and daytime behaviors can help you maximize the sleep you do get.
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Irregular sleep patterns, frequent feeding intervals, and near-constant soothing of newborns can all spell sleep deprivation for new parents.
In addition to being exhausted as a general matter of course, new parents are also tasked with navigating the best way to do things. Advice comes from every direction, and these disparate pieces of wisdom can make it difficult to discern truly helpful parenting tools from background noise, making finding a course of action for, say, maximizing sleep, hard to do.
That's where medical studies and well-established parenting hacks come in handy. Sunday Citizen looked at data on sleep, along with medical studies and websites, to curate a list of 10 sleeping tips for new parents. These nuggets of wisdom are extensively tried and tested, well-researched, and proven time and again to help ensure guardians can maximize what little sleep time they get—from choosing the proper sleep swaddle to creating a bedtime routine that will help everyone—baby included—fall asleep fast.
Proper sleep goes hand in hand with mental health; getting a good night's rest has been proven to aid in treatment for anxiety and depression during pregnancy and after birth, along with other treatment options. While you may not be able to control the frequency of middle-of-the-night wakeups, altering certain pre-bedtime habits and daytime behaviors can help you maximize the sleep you do get.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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A study involving 10,085 mothers from 14 countries who claimed fewer than half of their young children and infants had regular bedtime routines, published in the May 2015 issue of Sleep, found that children with regular bedtime routines slept better and for longer. Predictable, repeated behaviors, such as brushing teeth, bath time, and a bedtime story, correlated with more time spent asleep, fewer wake-up times throughout the night, and less time in bed before falling asleep.
Bedtime routines extend to overtired parents too: Dim lights, relaxing music, and a strategically set alarm 30 minutes before bedtime can all help to prime family members to fall asleep fast.
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A study involving 10,085 mothers from 14 countries who claimed fewer than half of their young children and infants had regular bedtime routines, published in the May 2015 issue of Sleep, found that children with regular bedtime routines slept better and for longer. Predictable, repeated behaviors, such as brushing teeth, bath time, and a bedtime story, correlated with more time spent asleep, fewer wake-up times throughout the night, and less time in bed before falling asleep.
Bedtime routines extend to overtired parents too: Dim lights, relaxing music, and a strategically set alarm 30 minutes before bedtime can all help to prime family members to fall asleep fast.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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Swaddling—a secure blanket-wrapping method leaving only a baby's head exposed—has myriad benefits, from protecting babies against their natural startle reflexes to easing anxiety by mimicking the womb or a guardian's touch. While swaddling isn't necessary for infants, it may help significantly with soothing and overall safety during sleep. This can elongate sleep time for the baby, which can mean more uninterrupted sleep time for parents.
Roughly 3,500 infants die each year in sleep-related incidents, according to the CDC, with sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, and accidental strangulation and suffocation posing threats swaddling can help avoid. The right swaddle will be fitted around the infant's arms and roomy in the hips and should never conceal the baby's face or head. Swaddling can be used until an infant is between 6 and 8 weeks old, or sooner if the baby has begun trying to roll. All babies younger than 1 year should be put to bed on their backs without objects such as toys, pacifiers, or bottles in the crib with them.
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Swaddling—a secure blanket-wrapping method leaving only a baby's head exposed—has myriad benefits, from protecting babies against their natural startle reflexes to easing anxiety by mimicking the womb or a guardian's touch. While swaddling isn't necessary for infants, it may help significantly with soothing and overall safety during sleep. This can elongate sleep time for the baby, which can mean more uninterrupted sleep time for parents.
Roughly 3,500 infants die each year in sleep-related incidents, according to the CDC, with sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, and accidental strangulation and suffocation posing threats swaddling can help avoid. The right swaddle will be fitted around the infant's arms and roomy in the hips and should never conceal the baby's face or head. Swaddling can be used until an infant is between 6 and 8 weeks old, or sooner if the baby has begun trying to roll. All babies younger than 1 year should be put to bed on their backs without objects such as toys, pacifiers, or bottles in the crib with them.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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Prior to establishing their circadian rhythm, babies can follow extremely irregular sleep patterns. For that reason, it's essential for parents to catch some Zs wherever possible—and the biggest opportunity presents itself as soon as the child falls asleep. Depending solely on overnight hours for sleep can spell sheer exhaustion for parents; catching naps wherever possible can be lifelines for quick resets throughout the day.
Dirty dishes, laundry, general house-cleaning, and social media can wait. If the baby is napping, it's the perfect time to turn off phone notifications and let household chores slide.
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Prior to establishing their circadian rhythm, babies can follow extremely irregular sleep patterns. For that reason, it's essential for parents to catch some Zs wherever possible—and the biggest opportunity presents itself as soon as the child falls asleep. Depending solely on overnight hours for sleep can spell sheer exhaustion for parents; catching naps wherever possible can be lifelines for quick resets throughout the day.
Dirty dishes, laundry, general house-cleaning, and social media can wait. If the baby is napping, it's the perfect time to turn off phone notifications and let household chores slide.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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To keep things equitable, many couples get up together to tend to newborns, ultimately to the detriment of both parents' sleep cycles. Breaking down overnight parenting responsibilities into shifts will help each of you catch some extra REM cycles throughout the week.
Shifts can be split up for feeding times, all nighttime duties from diaper changes to soothing, or by three- or four-hour blocks. Breastfeeding parents can pump on their nights (or shifts) off so the child can be bottle-fed by the other parent.
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To keep things equitable, many couples get up together to tend to newborns, ultimately to the detriment of both parents' sleep cycles. Breaking down overnight parenting responsibilities into shifts will help each of you catch some extra REM cycles throughout the week.
Shifts can be split up for feeding times, all nighttime duties from diaper changes to soothing, or by three- or four-hour blocks. Breastfeeding parents can pump on their nights (or shifts) off so the child can be bottle-fed by the other parent.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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To ensure you're able to fall and stay asleep until the baby wakes up, turn off your phone or put it outside of your bedroom. Electronic devices may push bedtime off by keeping your brain stimulated. A phone that lights up with every notification can also wake you up while you're getting necessary sleep.
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To ensure you're able to fall and stay asleep until the baby wakes up, turn off your phone or put it outside of your bedroom. Electronic devices may push bedtime off by keeping your brain stimulated. A phone that lights up with every notification can also wake you up while you're getting necessary sleep.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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At its simplest, sleep training involves getting your little one to fall asleep on their own. Some pediatricians recommend parents start sleep training when a baby is as young as 4 months old, as around this time is when their circadian rhythm kicks in and their sleep cycles mature.
Sleep training can start out as simply as putting an infant to bed as soon as they appear drowsy, with the caregiver sitting in a chair next to the crib. As soon as the baby is asleep, the caregiver can leave the room and return to the seat should the infant start to cry. After a few nights of this method, the chair can be moved further and further away from the crib until it is outside the room.
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At its simplest, sleep training involves getting your little one to fall asleep on their own. Some pediatricians recommend parents start sleep training when a baby is as young as 4 months old, as around this time is when their circadian rhythm kicks in and their sleep cycles mature.
Sleep training can start out as simply as putting an infant to bed as soon as they appear drowsy, with the caregiver sitting in a chair next to the crib. As soon as the baby is asleep, the caregiver can leave the room and return to the seat should the infant start to cry. After a few nights of this method, the chair can be moved further and further away from the crib until it is outside the room.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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Staying grounded with non-baby activities, whether going out for a quick walk, catching up with an old friend, journaling, or making time for a cardio workout, all lower stress levels throughout the day. Lower stress levels mean an easier time getting—and staying—asleep.
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Staying grounded with non-baby activities, whether going out for a quick walk, catching up with an old friend, journaling, or making time for a cardio workout, all lower stress levels throughout the day. Lower stress levels mean an easier time getting—and staying—asleep.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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Exhaustion interferes with everything from cognition to motor skills, making it essential to take extra safety precautions when caring for an infant while overtired.
New parents who are severely sleep-deprived should avoid driving a vehicle, opting instead for delivery and shipping services when possible. Putting off nonessential tasks and errands can make space for what absolutely has to get done. Those suffering from exhaustion should also avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can worsen symptoms.
Importantly, overtired parents should resist the temptation of co-sleeping or laying a fussy baby belly-down—each of which significantly raises the odds of SIDS or suffocation-related infant deaths.
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Exhaustion interferes with everything from cognition to motor skills, making it essential to take extra safety precautions when caring for an infant while overtired.
New parents who are severely sleep-deprived should avoid driving a vehicle, opting instead for delivery and shipping services when possible. Putting off nonessential tasks and errands can make space for what absolutely has to get done. Those suffering from exhaustion should also avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can worsen symptoms.
Importantly, overtired parents should resist the temptation of co-sleeping or laying a fussy baby belly-down—each of which significantly raises the odds of SIDS or suffocation-related infant deaths.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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This is the time to leverage friends and family by asking for help. From picking up groceries or takeout to watching the baby so you can nap or run errands, it truly takes a village to maintain mental health and balance during those first, vital few months with an infant.
Calling a friend to vent, taking advantage of counseling (virtual or in-person), and dividing up responsibilities with a partner can help take some of the burdens off and offer essential breaks to a newly hectic lifestyle.
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This is the time to leverage friends and family by asking for help. From picking up groceries or takeout to watching the baby so you can nap or run errands, it truly takes a village to maintain mental health and balance during those first, vital few months with an infant.
Calling a friend to vent, taking advantage of counseling (virtual or in-person), and dividing up responsibilities with a partner can help take some of the burdens off and offer essential breaks to a newly hectic lifestyle.
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Yes, you have to brush your kid’s baby teeth — even though they’re going to fall out
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It can be difficult for breastfeeding parents to extricate themselves from feedings every two or three hours. Pumping after a morning breastfeeding and storing the milk, however, can provide a much-needed break at a later feeding if another parent or caregiver can bottle-feed with the expressed milk.
Some parents find pumping at night also does the trick, as pumping or breastfeeding overnight helps maintain milk production—and production is often highest overnight or in the very early morning.
This story originally appeared on Sunday Citizen and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
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It can be difficult for breastfeeding parents to extricate themselves from feedings every two or three hours. Pumping after a morning breastfeeding and storing the milk, however, can provide a much-needed break at a later feeding if another parent or caregiver can bottle-feed with the expressed milk.
Some parents find pumping at night also does the trick, as pumping or breastfeeding overnight helps maintain milk production—and production is often highest overnight or in the very early morning.
This story originally appeared on Sunday Citizen and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
