Visit the Floss.com forums and find out what others are talking about.
The 
Up to the minute 
Measures That Can Help Prevent Cosmetic Dental Problems In Children
Many of the dental problems encountered as one ages are usually the result of habits and lifestyles that one had when they were children. Parents and or guardians should try to take measures early on in a child’s life to help prevent future problems that may require extensive cosmetic dental work.
Some things one can pay attention to include:
- watching for clenching or grinding habits in youngsters
- avoiding excessive fluoride levels in children by having your water source checked. If there are acceptable levels, vitamin supplementation may not be needed.
- Avoid giving children under the age of 8 years old the antibiotic Tetracycline. Mothers should also avoid certain medications during pregnancy.
- Make sure children wear protective mouthguards when playing sports.
- Avoid giving children cavity-producing foods, i.e., junk foods.
- Avoid allowing children to go to bed with baby bottles containing milk or any other liquids that can cause decay, other than water.
- Teach children good early oral hygiene habits.
- Watch for delayed eruption patterns or crowding in the child’s teeth.
- Have the child visit the dentist twice a year for a dental examination, cleaning and fluoride treatment to avoid future dental problems.
return to Your Beautiful Smile… The Wonders of Cosmetic Dentistry page
