Arnesen & Herbert, D.D.S., P.A.

Oral Care and Daycare: A dilemma

It's a difficult decision to leave your youngster with a childcare provider while you are at work. One dilemma is making sure your child gets appropriate oral hygiene care away from home.

It is vitally important to protect baby teeth from decay and pre-mature loss. Baby teeth preserve space for the permanent teeth to erupt and move into position, and they help your child to chew and develop speech.

Not all childcare providers have oral hygiene programs.

There are many valid reasons for a childcare provider to not provide oral care: controlling infection, lack of appropriate facilities and public health issues, for example.

If your childcare provider includes oral hygiene care, ask to observe how it is performed to know if your child is receiving the quality care he or she needs. Also, look to see if toothbrushes are air-dried naturally and the brushing methods are hygienic.

However, if your childcare provider does not have an oral care program, you need to make a commitment to maintain a regular brushing and flossing routine at home.

As soon as you get home, brush your child's teeth with fluoride toothpaste, and floss (if your child cannot brush and floss unassisted).

Lastly, regular dental check-ups are equally important. We use caries detection technology that can spot trouble before decay begins, and we can identify other dental issues that will affect your child’s health.

Caries is the number one chronic childhood disease in the U.S. We don't want your child to be in that statistic.

Remember, when you need us, we're only a phone call away.