Pre-School Dental Health Issues
First Dental Visit
We generally like to see children in the dental office by age three, earlier if there is any hint of a problem. If you are brushing your toddler's teeth and notice any unusual spots, or if you recognize any of the diet problems described above, you should have your child checked out even if he or she is younger than three.
Pre-School Diet
One habit that causes tooth decay problems is too much snacking, or use of food to keep a child quiet. Parents often use food to entertain a child, and it is not uncommon even in the dental office to see parents constantly shoving animal crackers, cookies, and cereal at the child to keep him or her occupied.
Snacking can be part of a child's diet, but it should be controlled, and should include more nutritious vegetables and fruits. Make sure that snacking does not interfere with appetite for meals, and limit the number of times a snack is offered because decay is more likely to happen when there are numerous exposures to sugars. (Even foods such as fruit or crackers still contain sugars.)
Since it can be difficult to keep a young child's teeth clean, it is especially important to keep sweet, sticky foods to a minimum. Some of the worst culprits are dried fruits, raisins, or fruit roll ups, or any hard candy that is sucked for a long time. Gummy candies or plain dark chocolate are less sticky and a better choice if you are going to give candy as a treat. A good rule of thumb for how bad a food is for your child's teeth is to consider how sticky that food is if it gets ground into the kitchen floor.
