Letter to the Editor: How to Prevent the Gift of Cavities

Dear Silver Spring Patch,

Parents need to watch their mouths around children. No, it's not just what you say, it's about cavities. Most people don't know that very young children can 'catch' cavities from parents. That's because babies are born with completely sterile mouths. Though bacteria will eventually colonize (like in the digestive system), what determines the ratio of helpful verses harmful bacteria is environmental exposure. This includes the bad bacteria from adults with poor oral hygiene. After about 18 months, that ratio is set in stone for the rest of the child's life-leaving some kids with dramatically increased risk for dental disease simply because their parents had, proverbially speaking, dirty mouths.

If left untreated, tooth decay can have serious effects on a child's physical and educational development. Pain, irregular permanent teeth and impeded nutritional intake can result in problems with speech, depressed immune systems and overall educational attainment. After all, kids in pain have a harder time paying attention in class and are more likely to miss school. In fact, the CDC reports 51 million school hours are lost each year because of dental-related illness. Plain and simple, poor oral hygiene can quickly put kids at a lifelong disadvantage.

So, what can parents do? Conventional wisdom says that monitoring your diet and practicing good oral hygiene is one way to ward off cavities. This is true. However, taking preventative measures to reduce the risk of transmitting cavity-causing bacteria to children will better position them for fighting off tooth decay and other health problems.

Here are a few tips:

• Start with a visit to your dentist. If you aren't already receiving regular 6-month dental check-ups, it's time to start doing so. You're not only bettering your own oral hygiene, but that of your kids. Plus, it's always great to set a good example. Expecting mothers can also transmit cavity-causing bacteria through the bloodstream to the fetus, so it's best to get this in check as soon as possible.

• It's important to remember that whatever bacteria is in your mouth can be passed on to your child through saliva. This can be done through something as harmless as sharing a spoon, passing a pacifier from your mouth to your child's, or even a kiss. Be sure to first rinse off anything that's been in your mouth before giving it to your child.

• Bring your child to the dentist for his or her first check-up at six months.  At this point, your child should already be developing baby teeth.  The dentist can determine the risk of your child developing dental disease.

•  Of course, a healthy diet and proper brushing (be sure to rinse your mouth out with water before and after) after every meal will also help reduce the risk of dental disease. Not only should you limit sugars and carbohydrates, but also non-sugar beverages with high levels of acidity like soda, sports drinks, coffee, and sparkling water. The key to combating cavities is to neutralize the acid content in your mouth, especially after eating.  Pay close attention to the products you are using to ensure they contain acid neutralizing agents.