The most frequent chronic illness in kids, tooth decay, surprises you. And by kindergarten, forty percent of kids already have tooth decay? Not only because of the pain and infection it can bring, but also because children with tooth decay are more likely to miss school and have poorer grades. Moreover, tooth decay is linked to a greater risk of many health issues later in life, including heart disease and premature birth.

While tooth decay is easy to prevent, tragically, many families neglect the required actions.

1. One should not overlook the fluoride. When it comes to stopping tooth decay, fluorine is quite beneficial. While eliminating fluorine totally is a major error, too much fluoride is not good since it causes fluorosis. One does not need “training” toothpaste. Your child should be using fluoride toothpaste as soon as they have teeth. The secret is to use only a little bit only. Just a barely noticeable smudge is plenty before three years old. Starting at three, use a pea-sized portion.
2. Don’t try to avoid brushes. It can be hectic in the morning when you are trying to get everyone out of the house; it makes sense to be so tired in the evening that simply putting children into bed becomes the aim. Still, preventing cavities mostly depends on regular brushing. Though twice a day is okay, brushing should ideally follow every meal. Once a day is not good.
3. Never miss supervising the brushing. Kids have incredible independence, but not when it comes to brushing their teeth. Parents should be involved for children less than six instead of only handing them the toothbrush and then checking their phone or sending them to the bathroom to brush on their own. Until you are convinced they are acting as required, do it yourself.
4. Keep from giving children sticky sweets. Sugar damages teeth, particularly when it is really attached to them. For snacks, then, things like toffee, caramel, gummy bears, and even dried fruit are not the ideal options. Though they should be limited and ideally children should brush shortly after consuming them, they cannot never have them.
5.  Children should not carry around milk or juice bottles or sippy cups. Children who regularly sip milk or juice end up having sugar constantly bathing their teeth. Not sucrose, but rather the natural sugars in milk and juice; even 100% juice and unsweetened milk have sugar, which can cause harm to teeth. Children should bring water if they are to carry a beverage.
6. Don’t try to avoid early or frequent dental visits. They should visit every six months for a check-up, cleaning, and preventative treatment, including sealants, once they get going. Regular dental visits are the best approach to identifying issues early on and stopping them before they begin, much like regular pediatrician visits.