February Spotlights Children's Oral Health

Did you know February is National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM)? It's a time to raise awareness about the importance of good oral health for children, and encourage early prevention of tooth decay for a lifetime of lasting smiles!

As your South San Francisco dentist, we want to ensure all parents, guardians and caretakers are equipped with the resources and knowledge to provide optimal pediatric dental care for their little ones! Here are some helpful tips to be aware of:

First Tooth, First Birthday, First Dentist Visit

New parents often want to know, "When should my child first see a dentist?" It's never too early to start developing your child's oral health! Healthy smiles start at home and the American Association of Pediatric Dentists recommends that parents establish a dental home for their child by their first tooth or first birthday. During the first visit, the dentist will swab your baby's mouth to check their gums and teeth. By establishing your child as a patient, their dentist can monitor their progress and suggest preventative measures for any concerns with your baby's teeth.

Protect Tiny Teeth 

Although we all know baby teeth will fall out, they are important for their role in saving space for permanent teeth. Baby teeth also stay in a child's mouth for 8-10 years and will affect their speaking, chewing, and smiling. Baby teeth can also be signifiers for a child's overall quality of health. If there is untreated tooth decay, this can cause oral infections that enter the bloodstream, and lead to other serious health problems. It can also allow bacteria to spread to new adult teeth.

Daily brushing is an important part of a child's daily oral hygiene routine but flossing is also just as important. Tooth decay can linger between teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach. Making flossing and brushing fun and exciting may be difficult with little ones but exposing them to these habits early will instill the importance of having healthy teeth as they grow older.

Good to know:

• For babies, clean gums daily by gently wiping a damp washcloth over the gums to remove harmful bacteria after feeding

• When you start to see the first tooth come in, start brushing. Use water and fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice).

• For children ages 2-6, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Always supervise kids younger than six years old while brushing, as they are more likely to swallow toothpaste.

• Begin flossing. Once your child’s teeth touch, you can start flossing in between them.

• Replace your child’s toothbrush every three to four months.

Another important oral health risk for infants and young children under age 1 is baby bottle tooth decay. This can happen when your child consumes sugary liquid and the bacteria in their mouth consumes the sugar to produce acid. The acid can greatly weaken the enamel of baby teeth, creating decay after continued exposure. Liquids such as fruit juice, milk, formula or other sweetened drinks can cause this to happen. So if your child needs to sleep with a bottle, water is the safest option.

Prevent Childhood Tooth Decay

Did you know, according to the ADA, more than 40% of children have tooth decay by the time they reach Kindergarten. Kids who suffer from poor oral health are also three times more likely to miss school due to dental pain.

Aim to have your child see their pediatric dentist every six-months and establish healthy oral habits from an early age. Small cavities can lead to much bigger problems down the line.

Our pediatric dentist, Dr. Erin Shah, shares the importance of those six-month check-ups and offers advice on how parents can prepare for young children for a lifetime of healthy teeth!

Good to know:

• We know it's tempting to give into snack requests. Healthy snacks will keep your children's teeth healthy and happy. Fruit juice, sports drinks, fruit snacks, and sticky candies all can be problematic for your child’s teeth. Snacks like cheese or low-sugar yogurt are calcium-rich alternatives. If you must give into candy, a chocolate bar is often safer than sticky or gummy sweets which can get caught between teeth even after brushing.

• Stay hydrated! Avoid sugary drinks and stick to plain water. Water rinses away sugar and particles which can lead to cavities.

We love helping share how dental care can be engaging, fun and educational for our youngest patients. You can request an appointment online, or give us a call or text at

(650) 871-1400 to get them started!