DVIDS – News – U.S. Army dentist shares best practices for children’s dental health

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Children don’t come with instructions, so one U.S. Army dentist at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., says parents should know to help their children establish good oral hygiene habits for a lifetime. We shared what we should do.

start early

“Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they appear in their mouth. For most children, this is the first six months of life,” said Maj. Yusheng (David) Chen, commander of Smith Dental Clinic.

He recommends using fluoride toothpaste twice a day, in the morning and at night before bed.

“Many people do this when they wake up as part of their normal morning routine, but I recommend waiting until after breakfast. This removes any bacteria that may have built up overnight or food from breakfast. deposits are removed,” Chen said.

For infants, parents should brush each tooth for about six seconds using clean fingers or wearing a specially designed silicone finger brush, Chen said. As the infant grows and teeth emerge, parents can begin brushing the child’s teeth twice a day for a total of about two minutes using a regular child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush.

“The appropriate amount of toothpaste for children under 2 years old is the size of a grain of rice. For children over 3 years old, the appropriate amount of toothpaste is the size of a pea,” Chen said.

Chen said sugary snacks and drinks, including milk, should not be allowed after brushing teeth at bedtime. Water is fine.

“Substances ingested after brushing can remain on the teeth overnight and cause cavities,” Chen says.
He said that for most children, flossing can wait a little longer.

“Most children have appropriate spacing in their primary dentition, or primary teeth,” says Chen. “It’s still a good idea to start practicing flossing at age 2. And by age 3, flossing is required every night at bedtime.”

Chen said starting oral hygiene early can reduce bacteria that can harm teeth and help children become accustomed to dental treatment.

go to the dentist

“Parents can schedule a visit to the dentist as soon as the first tooth comes in if they have concerns, but if they practice good oral hygiene, You can wait until the moon,” Chen said. He added that dentists can check if teeth are coming in properly and catch problems early.

Parents should brush teeth between visits until the child is about 6 or 7 years old.

“If a child can’t tie their own shoelaces or write their name legibly, that means they don’t have the fine motor skills needed to brush their teeth successfully.” Chen explained.

Even children who are physically able to brush their teeth may not have the maturity or attention to detail needed to do a good job, he said.

“From ages 7 to 10, parents should supervise their child’s tooth brushing and make sure all plaque is removed,” Chen says.

By the time children reach their teens, parents should check their teeth regularly to make sure their teen is removing plaque and not cutting corners when brushing. , he warned.

“Tooth decay is preventable with proper dental care,” Chen says.

In addition to brushing twice a day and flossing and rinsing once a day, he recommended that families should visit the dentist regularly for checkups.

Eligible military families can find a dentist through the TRICARE Dental Program. This program is a voluntary, enrollment-based dental plan for families of active duty military personnel.
For more information about the TRICARE dental program and covered benefits, please visit https://tricare.mil/coveredservices/dental/tdp.