Dental Care For All Children
Ages 1-18
(779) 221-2006
Rockford, IL
SpecialNeedsDentistRockfordIL.com

Brush up on your knowledge of kids' dental
health.

Introduction

Tooth decay is one of
the most common
chronic childhood
illnesses and is five
times more prevalent
than asthma.

"Far too many children
suffer far too much
dental disease, and it
is overwhelmingly
preventable,"

Says Burton L. Edelstein,
D.D.S., founding director
of the Children's Dental
Health Project in
Washington, DC.
Legislators are listening:

A bill, the Children's
Dental Health
Improvement Act of
2002, aimed at
increasing kids' access to
dental services, has been
introduced in

Congress and endorsed by
The American Academy
of Pediatric Dentistry
(AAPD) in Chicago
and other healthcare
organizations.

 Start
by testing your
knowledge and brushing up
on your dental facts.
 This
advice comes courtesy
of the AAPD as well as the
Chicago-based American
Dental Association.

Children's Dental Health
Quiz!


a. Between 6 and 12 months

b. When she turns 3 years old

c. When she loses her first baby tooth

d. When she gets a cavity


a. Every six months

b. Annually

c. Every other year

d. It's up to your dentist


a. Enough to cover all the bristles

b. A drop the size of a pea

c. A quarter-size amount

d. A smear


a. Monthly

b. Every three months

c. Once a year

d. When it looks worn out


a. he gets his first permanent teeth

b. he's 4

c. he's 6

d. he's 11


a. 2

b. 3

c. 4

d. 5


a. they can shift your child's teeth

b. they can cause tooth decay

c. they pick up germs easily

d. it's tough for most children to
stop using them


a. Give your child fluoride supplements

b. Have your child floss twice a day

c. Have your child brush only once a day to
spare tooth enamel

d. Have your child use an electric
toothbrush



a. Wearing braces
b. Drinking bottled water instead of
tap water

c. Consuming foods and juices rich in
calcium and fluoride

d. Eating smaller, more frequent meals


a. he's 2

b. he's 4

c. his teeth begin to touch one another

d. he gets his first permanent teeth


a. 2-3

b. 4-5

c. 6-7

d. 10-11

Following
are the
answers to your kids
oral health quiz.

 a.
The AAPD
recommends that
children see a dentist
when her first tooth
erupts or no later than
their first birthday.

a.
Children should see
the dentist twice each
year. These early visits
help dentists assess the
feeding patterns and
hygiene

habits that may
contribute to tooth
decay and determine
what preventive
measures, if any, are
needed.

b.
Some dentists say a
smear is enough, but the
official word from the
AAPD is to use a pea-size
amount of fluoridated.

toothpaste once your
child is between 2 and 3.
If you use more, they
may swallow it; this can
lead to fluorosis, which
causes white spots and
discoloration.

 b.
As long as it's kept
clean and dry between
uses, your child's
toothbrush only needs to
be changed every three
months or so.

Choose one with a
large handle, soft,
rounded bristles, and
a small head that
reaches back teeth.

Before teeth are
present, clean gums
with gauze, a
washcloth, or a small
soft-bristled
toothbrush and water.

 d.
Supervise your child's
brushing until age11.
Until age 6 or 7, you
should stand behind
them and physically
brush their teeth.

After that, they can do it
them-self, but you'll
need to make sure their
using the right amount of
toothpaste, brushing for
at least two minutes, and
rinsing properly.

By the time your child
turns 4, the jaw starts to
align; further thumb
sucking can cause the
upper teeth to tip toward
the lip.
 c.

For a child with several
baby teeth, a pacifier
can push the upper
teeth out and lower
teeth in.

b.
If your child
regularly drinks from
sippy cups filled with
anything but water,
particularly juice,

has a higher risk of
baby bottle tooth
decay, caused when
sugars in the liquid
combine with bacteria
in the mouth to form
acid

that dissolves the
immature enamel.
Never put your child
to bed with a sippy
cup unless it
contains water.

 a.
Fluoride supplements
are recommended for
children between 6
months

and 16 years of age
who live in areas with
no or low levels of
fluoride in their water
supply.

(Your dentist can
prescribe them.) To
learn the amount in
your municipal water
supply, ask your utility
company.

 c.
Consuming calciumand fluoride-rich foods
and beverages is
essential for strong,
healthy teeth.

Many juices, breads,
and cereals are fortified
with these nutrients.
Check the labels to learn
which ones are best.

 c.
When your child
should start flossing
depends on when his
teeth begin to touch that's when food can
become trapped.

If your child's teeth have
visible spaces between
them, flossing isn't
necessary, says the
AAPD.

 d.
Believe it or not,
some 2- and 3-yearolds are treated by
orthodontists. But that's
rare.

The majority of children
are closer to age10 or
11 when their dentist
recommends seeing an
orthodontist about
wearing braces.

What's
score?
your quiz

Give yourself one point
for each correct
answer. Then add your
points to find out how
you rate on dental
awareness.

10-11
Congratulations: You
sank your teeth into
this quiz. You really
know your stuff!

7-9
A refresher course
will make you and
your family all smiles:

Visit the
Dental Health Guide
at
www.keepkidshealthy.com
for a list of tips and
kids' books on dental
health.

3-6
Chew on this:
It's time to learn more
about children's dental
care.

Start by downloading
the AAPD's Parent
Education Brochures
at:
www.aapd.org/pediatricinformation/brochurelist.asp

 Less
than 3 Your
family's dental health
could be in serious
trouble. Speak with a
pediatric dentist to learn
how to get on track.

Why a pediatric dentist
over one who treats
adults?

Because their trained to
recognize and treat oral
health problems specific
care for infants,
children, adolescents
and patients with special
needs.

Dental Care For All Children
Ages 1-18
“Call Us Today”
(779) 221-2006
Rockford, IL
SpecialNeedsDentistRockfordIL.com