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For those who don't have access to the Web (it could happen ;-)

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Caring for Your Child?s Teeth

Cavities are a serious infection that can affect a child?s general
health, growth and development.

Cavities are catching.? New research tells us that cavities, which are a
bacterial INFECTION, are actually ?catching.??Babies are not born with
cavity-causing germs.?They get the bacteria from their parents and
caregivers through sharing foods and drinks.?That makes it very
important for parents to not share foods or eating utensils to reduce
the possible transfer of cavity causing germs to young children.?It?s
also important for parents to brush and floss daily and get any cavities
they have treated -- to reduce the amount of cavity germs in their
mouths.?

Primary, or baby teeth, are important for talking, eating, and
self-esteem.?Cavities in these teeth:

*  Are an infection
*  Can cause pain if left untreated
*  Can cause eating problems and weight loss if chewing becomes painful
*  Can cause crooked permanent teeth if primary teeth are lost too soon
*  Can affect the way a child looks and feels about herself
*  Can become very costly to repair
*  Can cause missed school days due to pain and infection and affect a
child?s ability to learn
*  Can cause difficulty sleeping due to pain

Check teeth for cavities.
Once a month lift the child?s lip and look for chalky white or brown
spots. Especially check the upper front teeth where the gums and teeth
meet, on the inside and the outside.?White spots can be the beginning of
cavities. Your dentist may apply fluoride to slow the development of a
cavity. If you see any, take your child to the dentist.?Brown spots may
indicate cavities.

The well-dental visit.
The American Academy of Pediatricians and the American Academy of
Pediatric Dentists recommend that your child have his first dental
check-up by the first birthday. The visit is a way to prevent dental
problems and catch any problems early. Your dentist will discuss 1)
correct way to brush and floss, 2) fluoride, 3) healthy feeding, and 4)
sealants for school-age children. Continue to schedule dental check-ups
for your child every six months.
Preventing Cavities - Infant and Toddlers

??? Don?t put baby to bed with a bottle. Anything but water can promote
cavities. Instead, hold baby while feeding, which promotes closeness.
??? Put only formula, breast milk or milk in baby?s bottle, sipper cup
or open cup at mealtime. Juices and other sugary drinks can promote
tooth decay. Water should be given between meals.
??? Start your child on an open cup at six months. Practice with water.
Wean her from the bottle around 1 year.
??? Don?t let child walk around or ride in the car or stroller with a
bottle or sipper cup with anything but water. Otherwise the sugar in
milk or juices is on the teeth longer and promotes cavities.
??? Don?t dip pacifier in honey or anything sweet, because it promotes
cavities. Never clean a pacifier with your saliva because it can
transmit cavity germs.
??? Before teeth come in, clean gums with a clean cloth once a day to
get baby used to mouth cleaning.
??? Gently brush baby?s teeth twice a day as soon as they come in to
remove cavity germs and food. The bedtime brushing is the most
important. Use a tiny pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste as early as
age one. Remove the excess with a washcloth.
??? Once two teeth touch each other, start flossing between those teeth
once a day.
??? Avoid snacking on sugary foods or drinks, crackers or anything that
sticks to the teeth. These foods feed the cavity-causing germs.
??? Snack on juicy cut-up fruits, vegetables and cheese.
??? Ask your pediatrician/dentist about fluoride tablets or drops if you
don?t have fluoridated water. Fluoridated water is the best way to cut
down on cavities.
??? Prevent tooth injury by using corner guards on furniture, gates, and
keeping electrical cords out of reach.

Preventing Cavities  Preschoolers

??? Continue brushing your child?s teeth morning and bedtime and
flossing once a day until he can tie his own shoe, about 5 or 6. For
safety, don?t let her walk around with a toothbrush. Use a small
pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. Have him spit out or wipe out
excess.
??? Continue dental check-ups every six months.
??? Continue to use fluoride tablets as prescribed by your doctor or
dentist.
??? Continue healthy snacking. Avoid carbonated beverages. Even
sugar-free sodas can weaken the enamel.
??? Discontinue pacifier use and discourage thumb or finger sucking
around age 3 or 4.
??? Don?t use candy or other food treats as a reward. Instead use hugs,
stickers, small toy, or reading time.
??? Don?t discipline by hitting your child in the face, which can cause
permanent tooth injury.

Preventing Cavities  School age children

??? Continue dental check-ups every six months.
??? Ask your dentists about sealants, which are a plastic coating,
applied to permanent molars to prevent cavities. Avoid chewing on ice,
which can break sealants.
??? Monitor your child?s brushing morning and bedtime and flossing once
a day.
??? Continue to use fluoride toothpaste and fluoride tablets as
prescribed by your doctor or dentist
??? Offer healthy snacks. Avoid candy, fruit roll ups, dried fruits,
crackers and other foods that stick in the teeth because they promote
tooth decay. Also avoid sour candy and powders and lemons, which can
break down the tooth?s enamel.
??? For cavity-prone children, chewing sugarless gum with the sweetener,
xylitol, 3-4 times a day helps prevent cavities.

For help in finding a dentist for your child, call:
Children?s Pediatric Dental Clinics at (858) 966-4094 or
Children?s Customer Care and Referral Service at 800-788-9020.

For more information on preventing injury and what to do with a knocked
out tooth, see tooth injury and mouthguards.

?Children's Pediatric Dental Clinics
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Hubby wants to watch a movie so I will read this site tomorrow.  I am
always interested in links about kids and doing whats best for them.

Keri

Pediatric Dentistry is apparently of the general opinion that parents
are probably spending money on a product that does not influence the
health of their children when paying for toothpaste without fluoride.  
So they no longer recommend this.  There is some association with
possible effects of baking soda in the fluoride-free products and the
research is not yet conclusive.  

This is what I was told by the person responsible for this material
which appears in the Children's Hospital of San Diego website.

TW

Tom's may have it also, but this is what my kiddies use...they only like the
Fruity flavor one...

http://www.orajel.com/products/toddler/training_toothpaste.htm

T

I checked Tom's more than a year ago, and they were offering a small
selection of non-fluoridated toothpastes, apparently sold with some
embarassment.

Here is another source:
http://www.nhe.net/naturalorganictoothpaste/index.html