IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Parents play a critical role in the prevention of dental disease in children.  Parents should know that dental decay can be dramatically reduced and even prevented with brushing and flossing, good nutrition, and dental examinations and treatment.  Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infection that can lead to problems with nutrition, growth, school readiness, and speech problems.

• Healthy Teeth Begin at Birth (brochure)

Frequently Asked Questions:

What insurance is available for children in Marin County?

Every low-income child in Marin County is eligible for free or low-cost dental insurance (and health insurance). Medi-Cal and Healthy Families are two of the largest programs and cover a range of services.

For information about free and low-cost health insurance for Marin County children under age 19, call the Marin County Children’s Health Initiative. (415) 473-3434.  This is a bilingual telephone line that offers information about health programs, including dental care, application assistance, and referrals to emergency and non-emergency health care facilities. Children's Health Initiative brochure

Free Statewide Phone numbers:

Denti-Cal	1-800-322-6384
Healthy Families	1-800-880-5305
California Society of Pediatric Dentists	1-800-503-9780

Are baby teeth really that important to my child?

• Your child’s baby teeth are important! Primary, or “baby” teeth, are important for many reasons.  Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in saving a space for permanent teeth when they are ready to erupt.  Baby teeth are important for children to speak clearly and chew naturally. 
• Children should start seeing a dental provider by age one, or when the first baby tooth appears.  This gives the dental provider a chance to educate parents about oral health care.  By taking care of teeth at an early age, children can keep their teeth healthy for a lifetime.

How can I prevent baby bottle tooth decay?

• Put your baby to sleep without a bottle
• Begin to give your baby a cup around 6 months of age
• Wipe your child’s teeth daily with a washcloth or baby toothbrush
• Flip your child’s upper lip once a month to check for white spots on your child’s teeth.  Have any white spots checked by a dentist.
• Limit how often your child snacks

How can I care for my baby’s teeth and mouth?

• Gently rub the gums of your baby with a washcloth once a day until the baby is about 2 years old. After age two, brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a “rice-sized” dab of fluoride toothpaste
• Begin brushing your child’s baby teeth when they come in with a soft baby-toothbrush and just water and no toothpaste as soon as a baby’s teeth come in—do not wait until the child is 2 or 3 years old
• Schedule a dental visit for your child by the time he or she is one year old

What are the best ways to protect my baby’s teeth?

• Lift the lip to check for changes on your baby’s teeth monthly.  If you notice white or browns spots call your dentist or doctor.
• Start dental check-ups by first birthday
• All babies should have their teeth checked by age one to help keep your baby’s teeth healthy
• Protect your baby’s teeth with fluoride.
• Brush daily
• Limit sugar and frequent snacking
• Not bottles in bed
• Wean from bottle to cup by age one
• Don’t share toothbrushes
• Help children brush up to age 6
• Take care of yourself and your oral health,  remember that parents can pass the bacteria from dental disease to their babies

What should I use to clean my baby’s teeth?

• A toothbrush will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay.  Any soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head, preferably one designed specifically for infants, should be used at least once a day at bedtime. 
• Do not use toothpaste until age 2. 
• A soft cloth can be used to clean the gums of babies.

Do I pass bacteria from my mouth to my baby?

• The saliva of mothers with poor oral health can contain a bacteria which can be transmitted to the child and contribute to early dental decay. 
• Routine activities, such as tasting baby food or sharing utensils, transfer saliva from mother to child and can pass bacteria. 
• Research shows that infants of mothers with tooth decay are much more susceptible to dental decay. 
• Do not share toothbrushes or eating utensils with your child.

How can I care for my toddler’s teeth?

• Do not allow infants or toddlers to sip juice or milk for extended periods of time; take the bottle or sippy cup away when your child is through. (The point is to limit the amount of time the sugars (juice) or carbohydrates/sugar (milk) are on the teeth).
• Never let an infant or toddler go to sleep with a bottle—the juice or milk will remain on the teeth far too long and cause decay.
• Make snacks healthy foods like fruit, vegetables, or cheese—not sweets or sodas.
• Limit your child’s snacking so that food and sweets do not stay in the mouth very long.  Rinse with water after eating snacks, especially sweets. 
• As young children are learning to brush for themselves, continue to brush and floss for them once a day to make sure teeth are getting thoroughly clean.
• And, visually check your child’s teeth once a month by “flipping the lip” up to look for white spots; these indicate the very beginning of decay which can be reversed if caught early enough.
• Wean your child from the bottle by age one
• Never share toothbrushes
• Do not share utensils with your child as bacteria may be passed from mother to baby

Are thumb sucking and pacifiers harmful for a child’s teeth?

• Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. 
• Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers past the age of three, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your dentist.

What can I tell my children about eating candy?

Some candy advice for you and your child:

• To prevent cavities, avoid hard candies and suckers. The main goal is to limit the time that sugars are in the mouth which coat the teeth with corrosive acid from decay causing
• Sticky and sour candies are also to be avoided because they stick to your teeth
• Chocolate is a little better—a child will eat it quickly with less time on the teeth
• Sugar free gum is great- Many Sugar free gums now contain xylitol which is a sugar substitute that can reduce cavity causing bacteria in the mouth.
• There is no best candy, but by limiting the time on the teeth and brushing afterwards or chewing gum with xylilol, you can help prevent decay.

What should I do if my child has a toothache?

• Call your dentist if your child has a toothache. 
• Give the child acetaminophen for pain, rather than placing aspirin on the teeth or gums.
• Rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the child’s face if it is swollen. 
• Remember to follow-up with your child’s dental appointments.

What kind of oral health education does my child receive at school?

• The Adopt-A-School Project is part of the Marin County Dental Society and is designed to provide your school with a volunteer dentist who is available to assist in providing oral health education and screenings provided by the Marin County Dental Society. 
• This project is a valuable community resource that can assist schools in meeting the California’s State Mandated Kindergarten Screening Requirement.

Other Important Facts:

• It is important for parents, prospective parents, and caregivers to monitor their own dental health—see a dentist at least once every six months and get treatment if necessary. 
• We now know that dental decay is an infectious disease—the bacteria is passed from parent to baby.  If parents or caregivers have dental decay, their children are put at a high risk of dental decay.
• Education on oral health issues such as the importance of primary teeth, first dental visit by first birthday, transmissible nature of cavity-causing bacteria, weaning, frequency of snacking, at home care, and use of fluoride toothpaste for a daily brushing for the entire family.
• Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infection that can lead to problems with nutrition, growth, school readiness, and speech problems.
• Prevention is key!  Parents can prevent tooth decay by following good oral health.