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National Center for Chronic
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Press Release
Brush Up on Healthy Teeth
CDC Encourages Parents to
Brush Up on Healthy Teeth Simple Steps for Kids Smiles
February 1, 2002
Every parent knows that a healthy smile is a sign of a happy
child, and oral health experts agree that creating those
healthy
smiles begins in infancy. In observation of National Children¹s
Dental Health Month (February), experts from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a
set of pediatric oral health tips, Brush Up on Healthy Teeth:
Simple Steps for Kids¹ Smiles.
The simple steps assist parents
in taking care of their children¹s teeth as well as
aid in teaching proper dental habits. Proper dental health
practices such as drinking fluoridated water and brushing
with a "pea-sized" amount of fluoride toothpaste
can greatly improve oral health in children. Fluoride works
by stopping or even reversing tooth decay. Research has
shown that brushing with toothpaste that contains fluoride
lowers the risk of decay by 15-30 percent, and drinking
fluoridated water lowers the risk by 18-40
percent.
"Beginning oral health
care in infancy, along with the proper use of
fluoride, reduces the risk of tooth decay and improves overall
health," said Dr. William R. Maas, Director of the
CDC¹s Division of Oral Health. "There are effective
measures that parents can take that are safe, effective
and simple, but it¹s important that parents understand
oral health and begin early."
The CDC recommends
the following Simple Steps for Kids¹ Smiles:
1.
Start cleaning teeth early.
As the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with
a clean, damp cloth every day. When more teeth come in,
switch to a small, soft toothbrush. Begin using toothpaste
with fluoride when the child is two years old. Use toothpaste
with fluoride earlier if your child¹s doctor or dentist
recommends it.
2. Use the right amount of fluoride
toothpaste.
Fluoride is important in fighting cavities. But if children
younger than six years swallow too much fluoride, their
teeth may have white spots. To keep this from happening,
use only a small amount f toothpaste (about the size of
a pea). Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and
to rinse well after brushing.
3. Supervise brushing.
Brush your child¹s teeth twice a day until your child
has the skill to
handle the toothbrush alone. Then, continue to closely watch
brushing to make sure your child is doing a thorough job
and using nly a small amount of toothpaste.
4. Talk to your child¹s doctor
or dentist.
Check with the doctor or dentist about your child¹s
specific fluoride needs. After age two, most children get
the right amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if
they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their
teeth with a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste twice
a day.
Parents of children over the age of six months should ask
about the need for a fluoride supplement if drinking water
does not have enough fluoride. Also, do not let a child
younger than six years old use a fluoride mouth rinse unless
the child¹s doctor or dentist recommends it.
To receive copies of Brush
Up on Healthy Teeth: Simple Steps for Kids¹ Smiles,
send a request to brushup@cdc.gov
United States Department
of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center
for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division
of Oral Health
