How to Keep Your Kids Cavity-Free

Wipe baby gums. A quick once-over with a damp cloth before bed removes bacteria that can harm soon-to-erupt teeth.

Brusha brusha. Once those pearly whites pop, brush once (realistically) or twice (ideally) a day with a soft, toddler brush. Use a pea-size drop of non-fluoridated toothpaste until age 4, or when your kid can reliably spit it out (swallowing fluoride regularly could make him sick and cause spots on the adult teeth).

Floss. Okay, we might as well be asking you to trim a wild bear's claws. But start using those plastic flossers now and your kid just might get used to it. Give your child a batch of colorful plastic flossers to encourage her to clean between her teeth. Even if she does only a few teeth a night it will help.

Ditch the bedtime bottle. The milk or juice can pool in your child's mouth as he dozes off, causing serious decay known as "bottle mouth."

Visit the dentist by age 1. Ask your doctor for a referral or find one at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry website: Aapd.org.

Say cheese! And eat some, too. The protein in it -- casein -- helps prevent tooth decay, so pass the cheese sticks. Another tasty idea: lollipops with xylitol (for kids over 4), a natural sweetener that prevents plaque buildup.

Spin it. Get her a battery-operated spin brush for more effective plaque- and bacteria-removing motion (a cheap model is just fine).

Brush to the beat. Have your kid scrub along to her favorite song to get her to hang in there for the recommended two minutes.

Finish up. If your child is younger than 8, do a final sweep with the brush after she's done to hit all the nooks and crannies -- and especially the back molars.

Be snack savvy. It's not just sugary foods you have to watch out for. Any starchy or processed high-carb food can get stuck in the crevices of teeth. Some surprising offenders: potato chips, wholewheat bread, crackers, and cereal bars. Follow with a glass of water to rinse them out.

Keep Your Child's Teeth Healthy By Keeping Your Own Teeth Healthy

Childhood dental caries, or "cavities", is an infectious disease. Read that again, and let it sink in. Childhood caries is an infectious disease.

Infections are caused by the transfer of bacteria or viruses from one person to the next . In the case of early childhood caries, the bacteria is passed from the child's caregiver, usually the mother, to the child via sharing of utensils, or kissing on the lips.

The window of infectivity is the first two years of life. If the bacteria is passed from caregiver to child in the first two years of the child's life, the child's chances of getting cavities are dramatically increased.

How does this process happen? The bacteria in the mouth break down food, and in the process, produce acids. These acids break down tooth enamel and the caries process begins. The more sweet foods the child eats, the greater the chance of caries formation. Keep in mind that the frequency of sugar consumption is more harmful than the quantity of sugar consumption.

What can be done?

• If you are a child's caregiver, keep your teeth clean and healthy. Fill any existing cavities in your own mouth;
• Limit the frequency of sugar consumption for both you and your child;
• Take your child to see the dentist between the ages of 6 months to 1 year;
• Help your child brush their teeth;
• Have the dentist give your child a fluoride treatment every 3-6 months depending on the caries state of your child;
• Examine your child's teeth for caries. You will see white spots or brown spots in areas of active tooth decay; and
• Use tap water as often as possible in order to increase the fluoride exposure to the teeth.