Preventing Tooth Decay

There are four steps you can take to prevent 90% of tooth decay.

• First, make sure your child drinks fluoridated water. Fluoride builds strong decay-resistent enamel. Your child needs fluoride in the diet from two weeks to 12 years of age. If your water supply doesn’t contain fluoride, ask your doctor for a prescription.

• Second, start brushing those teeth when solid foods are introduced. Try to brush after each meal, but especially after the last meal of the day. Brush the teeth in the first five to ten minutes after the end of the meal. If your child brushes his own teeth, go over them afterwards, at least until age six.

• Third, watch your child’s diet. Especially avoid stick candy; sugars that stay in the mouth are converted to acid, and the acid destroys the enamel.

• Fourth, when the permanent molars come in at about age six, a special plastic seal can be applied to their top surfaces. This seal may protect them against decay for a lifetime, so talk with your child’s dentist about this.

During Dr. Schmitt’s 20 years as a medical practitioner and researcher, he has published over 100 articles or chapters on pediatric health care, and has been awarded the distinguished C. Anderson Aldrich Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics for outstanding contributions to the field of child development. Schmitt has also authored five books including Your Child’s Health, which won Child Magazine’s first Hall of Fame Award in 1991. Schmitt is also a professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and on staff at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado.