Common Questions Parents Have About Fluoride Use in Children

Fluoride is essential for safeguarding children's dental health and fortifying their teeth. It's present in various sources like drinking water, toothpaste, mouth rinses, and even medical treatments such as fluoride varnish. Here are some common queries you might have regarding how fluoride contributes to your child's dental well-being.

1. Why is fluoride necessary for children? Fluoride, a natural mineral, plays a crucial role in preventing or halting the formation of cavities. When bacteria in the mouth interact with sugars from food and drinks, they produce acid that harms the tooth's outer layer (enamel). Fluoride shields teeth from this acid damage and aids in enamel restoration. Many communities add fluoride to tap water to benefit children, who should also use fluoride toothpaste and drink plenty of water.

2. Is fluoridated water safe for children? Yes, major health organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affirm the safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation in preventing tooth decay. Studies show that community water fluoridation reduces tooth decay by 25%.

3. When should my child start using fluoride toothpaste? The AAP recommends using a smear or grain-of-rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste twice daily from the eruption of the first tooth until the age of 3. After turning 3, they can use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

4. What if we live where water isn't fluoridated? In areas without fluoridated water, consult your local water utility agency to determine the fluoride content. If your water lacks fluoride or you use well water, consult your pediatrician or dentist, especially if your child is at high risk of cavities. They may suggest purchasing fluoridated water or prescribe fluoride drops or tablets.

5. Should my child receive fluoride varnish? Yes, fluoride varnish application by a pediatrician or dentist, typically initiated after the first tooth appears, helps prevent or slow tooth decay. Application frequency usually ranges from 2 to 4 times annually until the child reaches 5 years old.

6. What about breastfeeding or using infant formula? For babies under 6 months old, breastfeeding or formula feeding doesn't necessitate fluoride supplements or formula mixed with fluoridated water. While it's safe to use fluoridated water for formula preparation, there's a slight risk of fluorosis. Consult your pediatrician or dentist for guidance.

7. What is dental fluorosis, and does using fluoridated water with infant formula increase the risk? Dental fluorosis, often manifesting as faint white streaks on teeth, is usually mild and doesn't affect dental health. While using fluoridated water for formula may slightly elevate the risk, most cases are mild. The risk diminishes once the child's adult teeth emerge, typically around age 8.

Infections of Salmonella Among Kids

Salmonella bacteria cause over a million infections annually in the United States, primarily through contaminated food consumption, leading to symptoms like diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Children under 4, those not breastfed, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk. The bacteria spread through various animal products, contaminated water, and contact with infected pets. Recent outbreaks, such as contaminated organic basil, emphasize the importance of proper food handling and hygiene. Symptoms range from gastroenteritis to severe complications like bacteremia and meningitis. Travelers to certain regions may encounter typhoid fever, a potentially fatal strain of Salmonella. Diagnosis involves laboratory testing, while treatment focuses on supportive care, with antibiotics reserved for severe cases. Prevention measures include thorough cooking of food, handwashing, and avoiding contact with reptiles, especially for immunocompromised individuals. Travelers to high-risk areas should consider vaccination.

Nurturing Tiny Smiles: The Importance of Baby Teeth Care

Witnessing your infant's first tooth is an exhilarating moment for parents! Typically, babies start sprouting their initial (primary) teeth around 6 months of age, although some may appear as early as 3 months.

Did you know that tooth decay can begin as soon as your baby's teeth emerge? It's easy to overlook the importance of caring for these first teeth since they will eventually fall out. However, these primary teeth play a crucial role in the health of your child's permanent teeth and lay the groundwork for lifelong oral health.

Here are some compelling reasons why taking exceptional care of your child's primary teeth is vital:

Understanding how cavities develop in baby teeth:

Cavities form when the protective enamel layer of teeth is compromised by bacteria found in the mouth. These bacteria thrive on sugars from food and beverages, producing acids that erode tooth enamel and initiate decay.

Even natural sugars present in breast milk and formula can contribute to tooth decay. Despite the fact that primary teeth start to shed around the age of 6, the early dental hygiene habits and dietary choices significantly influence a child's long-term dental health. Research indicates that a healthy diet and good dental hygiene during infancy and toddlerhood can reduce the risk of tooth decay as the child grows older.

The importance of proper baby teeth care:

Despite advancements in cavity prevention, tooth decay remains the most prevalent chronic health issue in children. Shockingly, 23% of children develop cavities before their 5th birthday. Consider the following:

• Decayed baby teeth may require extraction by a dentist, which can be distressing and costly for both the child and the family.

• Gaps left by missing baby teeth can cause neighboring teeth to shift, potentially affecting the alignment of permanent teeth and necessitating orthodontic treatment later on.

• Healthy teeth are crucial for clear speech, effective chewing, and proper digestion. A confident smile is also essential for a child's social interactions and overall well-being.

Nine everyday practices for maintaining your child's dental health:

Here are some recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to prevent cavities in babies and young children:

• Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle, as it can expose teeth to sugars from formula or breast milk, leading to tooth decay (often termed as baby bottle tooth decay).

• Handle pacifiers, spoons, and cups carefully to prevent the transfer of cavity-causing bacteria.

• Cleanse your infant's mouth after each feeding with a damp washcloth or gauze pad, and introduce brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste when baby teeth emerge.

• Introduce drinking from a cup around your child's first birthday and limit sugary drinks like fruit juice.

• Limit sticky foods that can cling to teeth and promote decay.

• Encourage water as the primary beverage choice for your child.

• Educate yourself about fluoride and its benefits in preventing tooth decay.

• Schedule your child's first dental visit when their first tooth appears.

• Lead by example by maintaining good oral hygiene habits yourself and making dental care a family priority.

Your pediatrician also plays a crucial role in monitoring your child's oral health during routine check-ups and providing guidance on cavity prevention and dental care.

Remember, instilling healthy dental habits early on sets the stage for a lifetime of optimal oral health and overall well-being for your child.

Eczema & Sports: How to Help Your Child Prevent Flare-Ups

Participating in sports can boost a child's physical and mental health in so many ways. But for kids with eczema, exercise can also worsen their symptoms or lead to eczema flare-ups.

The good news: preparing your child with the proper clothing, hydration and moisturizing routine can prevent or minimize eczema flare-ups during sports.

Exercise & eczema flares: what's the connection?

Sudden body temperature changes and sweating are often a part of physical activity. These changes can cause eczema flare-ups. Physical activity can also dry out the skin through the loss of fluids. The sodium in sweat can further dehydrate the skin as well as sting and irritate it.

How to minimize eczema flare-ups while playing sports

During a game: sharing eczema tips with coaches

During a game or practice, there are ways you can help your child minimize skin irritation and dehydration. Share these tips with your child's coaches. Working together, you can keep your child's skin healthy and hydrated and minimize flare-ups.

• Keep hydrated with water breaks.

• Take frequent cooling breaks.

• Gently pat away sweat with clean towels.

• Use cooling cloths or towels as needed. They are designed to provide a cooling effect when wet.

• Wipe off shared equipment before use to prevent bacteria transfer.

• During flare-ups, your child may need to sit out a game, class or event.

Keeping uniforms & workout clothing eczema-friendly

When dressing your child for physical activity, choose clothing that decreases sweat and irritation. Here are some tips.

• Remove tags. You can also buy clothing with seamless tags or cover tags with silk material.

• Order clothing a size up for a looser fit.

• Try moisture-wicking fabric designed to wick sweat away from the skin and dry quickly. Wicking fabrics help prevent clogged pores and cool down the overall body temperature. You may have to test out different fabrics to see which one works best for your child and the specific activity.

• Always wash new uniforms and workout clothing before your child wears them. Check the clothing label for laundry care instructions. Use fragrance-free detergents.

• Dry clothing in the dryer. Clothing may feel softer when dried in the dryer. However, using the dryer is not recommended for all clothing. Check the clothing label for laundry care instructions.

• Wear a slightly damp shirt (dampened with cold water) during physical activity to help prevent overheating.

• Keep protective equipment, like helmets, clean and dry when not in use. Follow the manufacturer's directions on how to clean and store equipment.

Irritation from equipment rubbing against the skin can be tough to avoid, but these steps can help: Before and after play keep the skin barrier healthy with daily moisturizing; during and after play, manage sweat.

Moisturizing & protecting skin from sunburn

Always moisturize after bathing and gently towel-drying the skin. If medicine is needed, apply it before the moisturizer.

If the moisturizer does not include sunscreen, also apply a broad-spectrum, oil-free, water-resistant sunscreen of at least sun protection factor (SPF) 15 (up to SPF 50). An SPF of 15 or 30 should be fine for most people; the American Academy of Dermatology recommends an SPF of at least 30. More research studies are needed to test if sunscreen with more than SPF 50 offers any extra protection.

Managing sweat

After a game or other physical activity, it is important to remove wet or sweaty clothes as quickly as possible. If there are showers available, a short lukewarm shower will quickly rinse away sweat and bacteria.

If showering right away is not an option, a damp washcloth or noncomedogenic wipe can be used to cleanse the skin until your child takes a bath at home. These wipes and cleansers, typically used in makeup removal, do not clog pores and help keep the skin hydrated. Once sweat and dirt are removed, reapply moisturizers. Then, change into fresh, clean clothing.

After each use, clean clothing and equipment to remove dead skin cells, bacteria and oils. Check the clothing and product labels for laundry care and cleaning instructions.

To minimize underarm wetness, antiperspirant or deodorant with antiperspirant may be used.

Planning ahead

If your child is on a sports team or you have any special concerns, having a plan may be useful. For example:

• Discuss your child's eczema treatment and special considerations with coaches, teachers and activity leaders. Inform them of your child's needs, including extra water and cooling breaks.

• Pack a to-go bag of travel-sized toiletries of your child's skin and body care products. Include moisturizer, face and body wash, and shampoo, unless you know that products available at schools won't irritate your child's skin. Also, if needed, pack antiperspirant or deodorant with antiperspirant, cleansing wipes, a cooling cloth or towel, towels, a change of clothes and medicines.

What about swimming with eczema?

Swimming with eczema is different for everyone, since pools can have different effects on skin. Some children prefer chlorinated pools, while others prefer to swim in open water.

For some children, the chlorine in the pool is soothing, like a diluted bleach bath. For others, the chlorine can sting and irritate sensitive skin. Your child may prefer to swim in the open water of a freshwater pond or saltwater lake. If your child is going to the swimming pool, keep in mind that pool chemicals can be drying. Proper moisturizing beforehand is needed.

Before a trip to the pool, apply a layer of moisturizer or a thick emollient followed by sunscreen to protect the skin. Directly after swimming, clean the body with a gentle cleanser and rinse in warm water. Pat the skin mostly dry with a clean towel. While the skin is slightly damp, apply medicated ointment, if needed, and a layer of moisturizer.

Swimming in a pool, a lake, or other open water is an individual choice, but avoid immersing skin that has open sores or is weepy should be avoided.

Staying active

Sports activities provide physical and emotional benefits that children with eczema don't have to miss. By following these tips, your child can safely participate in physical education classes, play on a sports team or swim in swimming pools. Remember, managing the symptoms before, during and after physical activity is key.

More information

• How to Treat & Control Eczema Rashes in Children

Last Updated

3/29/2024

Source

Adapted from HealthyChildren Magazine (American Academy of Pediatrics Copyright © 2024)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

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Warning Signs of Breastfeeding Problems

Natural as the breastfeeding process is, challenges can sometimes arise. When problems do surface, they may grow worse very quickly. They can even interfere with your milk production or your baby's ability to get the nutrition they need.

That's why it's vital to get help right away if you experience difficulty with breastfeeding at home.

Don't hesitate to ask for guidance

Contact your baby's pediatrician, and don't stop asking for one-on-one guidance until you get the help you need. Reaching out to solve problems promptly helps ensure that you and your baby can continue to enjoy the many benefits of breastfeeding.
Here are 11 signs of breastfeeding problems:
1. Your baby's nursing sessions are either very short or extremely long.

Breastfeeding sessions that are consistently shorter than about 10 minutes during the first few months could mean that your baby isn't getting enough milk. Another potential problem: not enough milk is being removed to stimulate your ongoing milk production.

Sessions that are consistently longer than about 50 minutes are also cause for concern. It could mean your baby is not getting enough to eat due to ineffective suckling or low milk production.

2. Your baby still seems hungry after most feedings.
Your baby may not be ingesting enough milk. Consult your pediatrician and have them weighed right away. Meanwhile, double-check their latch-on and position at the breast to try to increase the amount of milk they are getting.

3. Your newborn frequently misses nursing sessions or sleeps through the night. Frequent, around-the-clock feedings are a necessary part of breastfeeding a new baby. Your baby needs a feeding every few hours to gain enough weight to thrive. If your newborn sleeps longer than 4 hours a night, wake them up and encourage them to nurse.

4. You don't hear frequent swallowing when your baby nurses once your milk supply has come in. Your baby will likely swallow occasionally as they begin to nurse, then swallow more frequently as they continue a session and less frequently again near the end. Swallowing is an excellent sign that they are actually ingesting milk. If they don't seem to be swallowing, call their pediatrician right away. (Keep in mind that you may not be able to hear your baby swallowing when they are taking small sips of colostrum in the early days, though.)

5. By two weeks of age, your baby is under their birth weight or hasn't started gaining at least 5 to 7 ounces per week since your milk came in. Inadequate weight gain is one of the strongest signs that a baby is not getting enough milk.

6. After 7 days, your baby has fewer than 6 wet diapers and 4 stools per day, their urine is dark yellow or specked with red, or their stool color is still dark rather than yellow and loose. If you or your pediatrician is concerned about your child's milk intake, you might want to keep a written record of your baby's wet diapers and bowel movements during the early days. This can help to be sure they are progressing properly. Most hospitals and lactation specialists can provide you with a special diary for recording your newborn's feedings and diaper changes.

7. After 5 days, your milk hasn't come in or your breasts don't feel as though they're filling with milk. If you feel this way, have your baby weighed by their pediatrician immediately. This is the most precise way to tell whether they are ingesting enough milk. You may also want to have your breasts examined.

8. You experience severe breast engorgement. Hard, painful breasts may prevent your baby from latching on correctly and discourage both of you from nursing. You may need to express milk manually or with an electric breast pump until your breasts have softened somewhat. Severe, unrelieved engorgement can decrease your milk supply.

9. The fullness and hardness of your breasts don't decrease by the end of a feeding. Your baby may not be drinking enough milk or may be suckling ineffectively.

10. Severe pain interferes with breastfeeding. Your baby is probably not latching on correctly. If you have severe nipple pain or significant cracking of the nipples that makes it too painful to nurse, consult your physician or lactation specialist. They can check for a nipple or breast infection, such as mastitis, and help you with any problems with latching on. You may need to start breastfeeding on the less sore side or even use an electric breast pump until your nipples have healed. Your lactation specialist or La Leche volunteer can show you how to do this.

11. After a week or two, you don't notice the sensations associated with your milk let-down reflex. Though this may not signal a problem at all, it could mean that your milk production is low. Ask your baby's pediatrician to evaluate your baby and observe your breastfeeding technique. Your local La Leche League volunteer or lactation specialist can help assess the situation, too.

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