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6/25/2017 Insights

New Recommendations For Pediatric Oral Health Care

New Recommendations For Pediatric Oral Health Care
from Metro Creative Graphics

The American Dental Association is now recommending fluoride toothpaste be used on children’s teeth as soon as they emerge. Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. More than 16 million children in the United States alone suffer from untreated tooth decay, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As more and more children develop cavities, new advice is being offered to those who care for young children’s emerging and established teeth.

The American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs has updated its dental care guidelines for caregivers. While it was once recommended to use water only or a nonfluoride toothpaste to clean teeth of the very young, the CSA now recommends the use of fluoride toothpaste even for young children, saying parents and other caregivers should brush their kids’ teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth comes in.

“Approximately 25 percent of children have or had cavities before entering kindergarten, so it’s important to provide guidance to caregivers on the appropriate use of fluoride toothpaste to help prevent their children from developing cavities,” said CSA chair Edmond L. Truelove, D.D.S.

Read full article on Daily Republic.