- Reduce frequent or prolonged exposure to sugar
- Discontinue the bottle at 15 to 18 months of age
- Do not allow the child to use Sippy cups for long
periods
- Use water instead of milk, juice, or soda if child
must have prolonged usage of bottle or Sippy cup
- Reduce child's exposure to oral germs (Mutans
streptococci)
- Encourage caregivers to maintain good oral health
- Recommend that caregivers receive appropriate dental
care
- Use
appropriate amount of fluoride
- Use fluoridated toothpastes
- Evaluate with a dentist the amount of fluoride in water
and foods - Supplement fluoride if necessary
- Consider having health professionals apply fluoride to
teeth
- Improve the child's oral hygiene habits (such as
increasing caregiver involvement in tooth brushing)
- Conduct early screenings and refer as necessary to
dentists
- Academy of Pediatrics – Children with
neurodevelopmental disorders have higher risk of caries than other populations.
- Children with cerebral palsy have higher rates of
caries.
- The rate of caries, periodontal disease and
malocclusion in disabled children exceeds that of children without
disabilities.
Caries management and prevention
- Feeding
- Unrestricted, at-will consumption
of liquids, beverages and foods containing fermentable carbohydrates
(e.g. juice drinks, soft drinks, milk, and starches) can contribute to
decay after eruption of the first tooth.
- Infants should finish their
bedtime and naptime bottle before going to bed.
- Children should be encouraged to
drink from a cup by their first birthday.
- Brushing
- Wipe their gums and teeth with a
soft cloth after feeding and before bed and nap time.
- As soon as the first tooth
appears, brush your child's teeth daily with a child size toothbrush
- Using fluoride toothpaste
- Make sure the child receives
fluoride. Fluoride toothpaste, fluoride water and fluoride treatments or
drops are excellent sources.
