Protecting Tiny Teeth Watch out for these hidden dental dangers BY DWAIN HEBDA
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t’s an exciting life landmark when a child’s teeth start coming in and the resulting pearly little smiles are enough to melt any parent’s heart. But the emergence of baby teeth — and even before — is also a signal for parents to begin a child on healthy dental habits, according to Dr. John “Pug” Pate with Small Bites Pediatric Dentistry. “Tooth decay is the number one most common disease in children and an epidemic in the United States,” he said. “The good thing is that it is 100 percent preventable. Research has shown that the earlier you start going to the dentist, the less dental treatment is needed throughout life. This is why it is recommended to start seeing a dentist at age 1.” Pate said while most parents know that sugar is generally bad for teeth, they often don’t realize how many places it pops up in their child’s diet. Cough syrups, fruit juices and the trendy new pureed squeeze snack pouches can all hide a lot of sugar that can wreak havoc on tiny teeth. “Candy is bad, but sugary drinks throughout the day are worse,” he said. “Water is our best friend and should be sipped on between meals. Milk is good at mealtimes but can
“Tooth decay is the number one most common disease in children and an epidemic in the United States.” 36 FEBRUARY 2020 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
