Should I Use Fluoride Toothpaste and Other Frequenlty Asked Dental Questions – ‘Got Kids’

Do you know how often to brush & floss, or if you should use fluoride toothpaste on your children? Get the answers here!

February is National Dental Month and since children's dental health is one of the least covered topics by new moms, but one of the MOST important, all month long we're discussing how to keep your child cavity free!

My son ended up having over $10,000 of dental work before he even turned three because of extensive tooth decay from a couple of issues:

1. His enamel did not develop properly in the womb
2. and nighttime breastfeeding

And he's not alone! Unfortunately 40% of children will start kindergarten with some form of tooth decay!

I spoke to our local expert Jillian, a nurse with the Mesa County Health Department. Take a listen:

Recommendations:

1. ALWAYS talk to your dental professional.
2. Brush at least once a day
3. Floss once a day
4. Wipe babies gums off with a soft cloth after nursing
5. Don't use fluoride paste for babies, use a child toothpaste for toddlers
6. Dilute mouthwash or use alcohol free mouthwash for your child

Our sponsor Dr. Cox from Pediatric Dental Specialists which is who takes care of all my sons dental needs and he says:

Tips:

1. Even if your child doesn't have any teeth coming in at 12 months it's a good idea to take them and:
   1. let them have a good experience
   2. get familiar with the chair
   3. get familiar with the dentist
   4. find out how to care for your child's mouth i.e. using a wash cloth to clean their gums
2. Start good habits early so they enjoy it as they grow
3. Check out easy products to maintain your children's oral health:
   1. wipes
   2. finger brushes
   3. finger puppets
4. Talk to your dentist about how to prevent tooth decay.
5. Tooth decay can effect your child's:
   1. health
   2. speech
   3. and MORE!

"Got Kids," in con-junction with the Partnership for Children & Families, is a NEW feature at 9:40 every Friday.

Covering early childhood growth and development, a variety of services, products and resources that serve Western Colorado. From immunizations to bath time, dentists to hotdogs, we're covering it all!

You can even submit questions to our local expert, Jillian Miller a nurse with the Mesa County Health Department.

Why is she our "Local Expert"? Take a listen to her credentials:

For MORE resources find them on:

1. Facebook
2. Online Got Kids Road Map