Wellness/Prevention: Keep Young Children Cavity-Free.

Starting good dental habits at an early age is vital when it comes to the health of a child’s teeth. Dr. Gretchen Henson, a dentist at Interfaith Medical Center in New York, recommends that parents clean infant gums with a soft cloth after feeding and never let infants and toddlers sleep with bottles of milk or juice. Because tooth decay bacteria are highly contagious, she recommends that parents never lick a pacifier to clean it or share utensils with their child. Her other recommendations include limiting sugary drinks, avoiding all day snacking, brushings teeth twice daily, and start flossing early when two teeth touch. Interfaith Medical Center, February 2015