As a parent, any number of thoughts could be running through your head.  You may be afraid of your child developing a bacterial infection, or that they may have transmitted a serious disease.

Thankfully, this is rarely the case.  Daycare bites rarely break the skin.  In cases where the skin has been broken, the biter would have to be in a high-risk category to cause any worry.

Children who have not been vaccinated against Hepatitis B could be considered high risk biters.  The risk of transmission is low, and is non-existant if the skin was not broken.

An HIV positive biter, even when breaking the skin, has only a miniscule chance of passing the virus to the unfortunate bitten child.  In fact, the chance is so small that the risks of treating the bitten child with anti-HIV drugs are far greater.

If your child is bitten at daycare, carefully examine the wound.  If the skin is intact, gently wash the area and apply ice.  Depending on the pressure when the child was bitten, they may develop a small bruise. 

If the skin has been broken, allow the wound to bleed for a moment, to flush out any bacteria.  Gently wash the area and pat dry.  Apply a mild antiseptic and cover with a clean bandage.  If you are concerned, call your family doctor and ask them to examine the bite wound. 

Anytime a child is bitten and the skin is broken, check their vaccination records to be sure theit Tetanus shot is up to date.  If not, take them to the doctor immediately.

According to the study, kids who drank 100% fruit juice had healthier diets than those who drank no juice, and consumed more key nutrients.  The children also had BMIs (body mass indexes) which were either the same or lower than the non juice drinkers, allaying parents’ fears that juice drinking can make children obese.

The study found that although juice didn’t make the little ones considerably slimmer, it had a much greater effect in the 12 to 18 year old age group.  So what should parents do with this information?  Well – give your child juice of course!  But do it within limits.  Small babies who still drink from a bottle or sipper cup shouldn’t drink juice because of the risk to their teeth from the sugar, but it’s fine for older children.  Make sure you check the label though – a 100% fruit juice is totally different to a fruit juice drink.  Check the back of the packet to make sure that it doesn’t have any added sugar, or all the health benefits could be negated by the sugar content.  Natural fruit sugar is healthy – added white sugar isn’t great.

The transition from bottle to cup can be easy if you help your toddler with the process.  Get your child a cup with a snap-on lid, a spout and handles.  Start the process by giving your toddler a cup with a small amount of water and show him how to drink out of the cup.  Make sure to offer only juice and milk from the cup and water from the bottle.  This will help break your child from an attachment to the bottle.  If your child seems cranky, resist the temptation to give them a bottle, cup or the breast right away.  Make sure she is really hungry first.

Never put your toddler to bed with a bottle or cup.  It is bad for the teeth.  Offer your child the cup at just one feeding a day until she gets used to it.  It may be a few weeks or it may take up to 6 months for your child to get used to drinking from a cup.  If your child misses the bottle, offer a blanket or stuffed animal for comfort.

Gum disease is caused by plaque build up in the teeth primarily, so the best way to prevent it is to prevent plaque.  Obviously the main thing to do is to ensure that your child brushes his or her teeth regularly, and doesn’t skip parts of his or her mouth.  Encourage your child to floss also – if they’re too young to do it for themselves, then do if for them.  Try and make sure also that your child doesn’t suck his or her thumb – this doesn’t cause plaque, but it does make it harder to reach with a toothbrush as it displaces the teeth.  If your child eats something very sweet, get him or her to brush right after.  That way the plaque never has a chance.

Thumb sucking is a good way for children to bend their teeth out of position.  While thumb sucking may not cause teeth to go out of shape in itself, it can certainly make the problem worse in kids with hereditary problems.  Experts have recently told the U.S. food and drug administration that thumb sucking after the age of seven can affect not just the teeth, but also the alignment of the jaw. 

So if you don’t want your child to have to wear braces and other orthodontic appliances in later life or have a wonky smile, try and kick that thumb sucking habit in the butt as soon as you can!  Vigilance is the best way to do it – try and distract your child whenever you see their thumb going towards their mouth.  It’s a hard habit to kick, but it is just that – a habit.  There is no reason why a child should suck his or her thumb so stay firm, and think of the benefits for your child’s teeth in the long run, even if he or she protests.

According to the American Dental Association, there is little reason to fear that thumb or finger sucking will harm a baby’s teeth or jaws.  It shouldn’t be a matter of concern unless the child is three or four years old and sucking with a great deal of pressure on the jaws.  Most babies give up the habit when they’re between eighteen months and two years of age.  The practice may crop up infrequently after that point, especially at times of fatigue, stress or fear, but this is natural and shouldn’t be discouraged.

Pacifiers can be helpful for babies who have a great need to suck.  Orthodontic pacifiers on the market are designed not to interfere with the development of your child’s teeth and haw.  It is easier to wean a child from a pacifier than from a thumb.  However, removing a pacifier doesn’t mean a child won’t suck his thumb.  To use a pacifier effectively be careful not to pop it in whenever your child seems fussy.  Make sure all of her basic needs, such as food, dry clothes and cuddling are met first.  Try to avoid getting your child in the habit of falling asleep with the pacifier in his mouth.  Remove the pacifier when he is sleepy and allow him to completely fall asleep without it.

A report in the February issue of General Dentistry suggests that, while helping fix other problems, some kids medicines could be harming their teeth while they work, creating cavities.

But if the medicine doesn’t contain sugar, how can this be?  It’s all to do with the acidity level of the medicine.  The report suggests that many of children’s liquid medicines have low pH levels and high acidity.  This can be bad for children’s teeth, especially if the medicine is given before bed.

Saliva, which usually washes the mouth clean, decreases during sleep, so the medicine can linger much longer in your child’s mouth.  If you still want to continue using liquid medicines though, just follow a few simple steps to ensure tooth safety for your children:

      Try to get your child to take his or her medicine at mealtimes.

      Make sure your child gargles, or swallows, some water after the medicine.

      And best of all, get your child to brush his or her teeth with a fluoride toothpaste  after taking the medicine.

The following are some calcium rich foods. One serving equals approximately 200 mg of calcium:

• ½ pint homogenized milk = 1 serving
• 1 large yogurt (200ml) = 1 serving
• Tofu (125g) = 1 serving
• 1 portion cooked broccoli (150g) = 1 serving
• 3 slices blocked cheese (40g) = 1 serving
• Baked beans (270g) = 1 serving

To achieve maximum calcium absorption:

• Eat or drink suggested amount of calcium rich foods
• Allow absorption from the gut
• Prevent losses from the bones (certain medications, diet, etc)

To obtain these goals, most children need to increase their calcium they intake on a daily basis. Drinking three 8oz glasses of milk a day is recommended. Calcium is better absorbed during the pubescent years. Calcium also helps support healthy teeth. Pregnant mothers should drink milk or take calcium supplements while the baby is in utero.

 

Young children need a lot of calcium to help aid in the continual growth of jawbones and permanent teeth. When the teeth first form and mineralize, they need a large supply of phosphorus and calcium to form a hard structure. This takes place over some time.

Having the right amount of phosphorus and calcium during growth is crucial for healthy teeth. Calcium makes jawbones healthy and strong. Jawbones need strength to hold teeth in place. Other than phosphorus and calcium, milk also has vitamin A and D in it. Vitamin A is important for the mucous membranes in the mouth, and vitamin D promotes absorption of calcium for health bones and jaw growth.

Your teething baby may have excessive drool. To help protect clothing and skin, you can use a soft pull-over bib. If your infant’s cheeks and chin become red and irritated you can apply petroleum based ointment, such as A & D ointment, to help sooth your baby’s skin. Even though it might be hard, try not to wipe your child’s chin excessively. This can make the irritation worse and chap their delicate skin.

Red and swollen gums can be irritating to your baby, and over-the-counter preparations may help lessen the pain. Some popular brands include Baby Orajel and Hyland’s Teething Gel (my personal favorite). If you like, you can also give your baby a cool, damp washcloth to chew on. Drinking cold liquids may also reduce the pain. Massaging and rubbing the baby’s gums with your finger or soft tooth brush can also provide relief for your little one.

The urge to bite and chew is your baby’s natural response to their gum discomforts. Don’t punish them if you find them gnawing on something they shouldn’t be. Just redirect their attention to a teething ring or toy. Make sure to have a variety of clean substitutes handy for your teething baby.