Feb. 1 marks National Children’s Dental Health Month, which is observed to raise awareness of the importance of oral hygiene and “how it can positively affect the entire body,” said Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Bradley Bennett, Director of Hospital Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry at Walter Reed.
Bennett explained that teeth are not only important for proper chewing and food intake, but also for the development of speech and the establishment of self-confidence and self-esteem, especially for children and young adults. Additionally, baby teeth serve as space savers for permanent teeth and help guide them into proper alignment. Hence, it is imperative that proper care of a child’s teeth starts early,” he added.
A baby tooth normally remains in a child’s mouth until a developing permanent tooth is ready to emerge through the gums. If a child loses a tooth prematurely due to an accident or the extraction of a diseased tooth, it can lead to a loss of space and has the potential to cause the new permanent tooth to erupt out of alignment or not erupt at all, Walter Reed dentists explain.
They added that caring for a child’s teeth should start with an expectant mother having a healthy diet, lifestyle and keeping regular appointments with her dentist and doctor. Then, even before a child’s first tooth erupts, parents and caregivers should wipe the child’s gums with a clean, soft wet cloth after feeding or at least twice a day.
“Please start brushing with a ‘whitening’ fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth erupts,” Bennett said. “Modern eating habits can quickly turn healthy teeth into cavities.”
Bennett added that getting families to change dietary and oral hygiene behaviors to prevent oral disease can be a challenge, but it can be avoided by developing good habits early.
According to Dr. Clayton Cheung, also a pediatric dentist at Walter Reed, children should brush their teeth twice a day for at least two minutes per brush under adult supervision. “Adults should always check to make sure brushing has been effective,” she said.
“Two minutes is the goal, but sometimes that can be a little too much for little ones,” Bennett added. “The key is the use of fluoride. I ask all patients to spit out the excess toothpaste, but don’t rinse afterwards.”
Bennett said flossing should start when children have all their adult teeth or when baby teeth start touching.
“A child usually doesn’t have the fine motor skills to floss until about age 8 or 9, [so] Parents should floss the child’s teeth until he acquires this skill,” Cheung added.
“Flossing is great at reducing gingivitis, but there is less evidence that it prevents cavities between the teeth. These are usually caused by diet,” Bennett said. “We often see 2- or 3-year-olds with mouths full of cavities from juice, soda, or even constant milk consumption. A big part of our team’s work is discussing nutrition and the impact it has on a child’s teeth and overall health.”
“Fruits and vegetables are great. the juice is not,” added Bennett. “Fluoridated water has also reduced cavity prevalence over the years.”
In addition, Walter Reed dentists recommend that children limit foods that can get stuck in the grooves and pits of their teeth for long periods, such as chips, candy, and cookies, and brush immediately after eating them. Also, fresh fruits and vegetables increase the flow of saliva, which can help wash away food particles.
Parents should also schedule regular checkups. The first visit to the dentist is recommended by age 12 months or within 6 months of the appearance of the first tooth, dentists said. If it has been more than six months since your child has seen a dentist, schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Also, replace your child’s toothbrush every three to four months.
Bennett added that Walter Reed Pediatric Dentistry offers a full range of dental services, including in-hospital general anesthesia for some oral procedures. “Dental surgery is a common option, but it can cost a family several thousand dollars when seeking care in the community. We can provide this service for free to our military families.”
She said she finds it very rewarding to see children grow into young adults and to take a child who is afraid of the dentist and work to repair that relationship.
“A lot of our work involves managing children’s behavior,” Bennett explained. “We have many options available to us, but having a child support-oriented team is a big plus for a general dentist. We are also focusing on ensuring proper growth and development.”
“I enjoyed treating children while in dental school, but as [military] dentists, we usually only treat active staff. However, while living in Sicily, I had the opportunity to babysit many children of military members and I really enjoyed interacting with the children. This has only increased since I pursued peds as a career.”
For more information about pediatric dentistry at Walter Reed, visit or to make an appointment call (301) 400-2060. More information is also available on Children’s Dental Health on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/features/childrens-dental-health.html#:~:text=February%20is%20National%20Children’s%20Dental,than%20children%20who%20don’t.
