Children

Infants
First teeth usually erupt at around 6-7 months of age, and bacteria attach themselves to the first tooth soon after. The bacteria come from another tooth, from an adult or sibling – most often from the mother’s mouth. The bacteria on this first tooth will then “infect” other teeth in the infant’s mouth. The strain or kind of bacteria on the first baby tooth is of vital importance to the future dental health of this child. (This process of bacteria spreading from one tooth to the other is called colonizing.) When friendly bacteria colonize new teeth, the child’s chance of future cavities can be reduced by 80% or more.

During the second year of life, baby molars begin to erupt. These teeth have crinkled surfaces or crevices where tooth bacteria lodge and grow. The bacteria that occupy these molar crevices become the dominant strain found elsewhere in the mouth, virtually being fountains of mouth bacteria. This is why it is vital to encourage healthy, tooth-protective bacteria to colonize an infant’s mouth prior to the eruption of these baby molars. Studies show that children with cavities before the age of four are more likely to have bad teeth for life. Xylitol can help change this outcome.

Cleaning baby teeth

Keeping new teeth clean and protected is important. New teeth are soft and easily damaged by mouth acids from drinks like soda, citrus waters, sugary juices and even formula milk. Remember that a small amount of xylitol (1/4 to 1/8 teaspoon) dissolved in water makes a safe drink for a baby, or you can wipe the infant teeth with a cloth or soft brush dipped in this solution.

For babies, toothpaste and should be avoided because many children’s toothpastes contain sugar, sorbitol or acidic components. Instead use a soft toothbrush dipped in a solution made from a 4-gram packet of granular xylitol dissolved in warm water. Be sure baby has her own toothbrush, and disinfect it regularly. In addition to brushing, xylitol wipes and teething gels can be applied to baby teeth to rid them of bacteria and strengthen them. (www.spiffies.com)

Toddlers

Toddlers are busy people, wanting to do more things on their own. They love to learn at this stage so this is a great time to establish a dental care routine.

Encourage your toddler to brush his teeth on a regular basis, especially before bedtime. If you use toothpaste, use only a pea-sized amount, since ingesting paste is not recommended. If your child has signs of white spots or cavities, he or she will benefit from a tiny amount of simple sodium fluoride toothpaste such as Crest Original without added tartar control, whiteners, sparkles or baking soda. Another alternative is to use a drop of ACT anticavity mouth rinse in place of toothpaste. As your toddler learns to brush you can teach him to rinse and spit properly, with a small cup of water that contains a little xylitol or plain water. A toddler is too young for rinsing with fluoride or other rinses, since they tend to drink the rinse.

Dissolve a packet of xylitol in 8 ounces of water and can encourage your toddler to drink a little of this liquid to “wash the teeth” at the end of each meal. You may also like to use granular xylitol at the end of meals on a spoon, as a dip for fruits such as banana or strawberries. Alternatively you can introduce xylitol gum, candy or mints.

Juices may be healthy for a child, but regular use in a sippy cup can lead to prolonged acidity on teeth, which can cause a very damaging form of tooth decay. Kool-Aid, soda, fruited waters (diet and regular), vitamin waters, orange, lemon and fruit punch are all acidic and can damage teeth.

Research has shown that regular use of xylitol can reduce by 40 percent the incidence of ear infections and frequent colds in toddlers. And drinking xylitol dissolved in water before naptime can protect teeth if your toddler tends to breathe through his mouth as he naps.

Children

5 – 6 years old

This is the age when permanent molars begin to erupt. These molars are important adult teeth and need to last longer than any other tooth – hopefully for a lifetime. Because new teeth are soft and vulnerable, many molars are damaged and develop cavities within a year of erupting. A filling at age five can cause lifelong problems with many repairs and possibly result in root canal treatments and crowns.

It takes about a year for new teeth to absorb minerals onto their surface from the mouth saliva, so newly erupted teeth are soft and easily damaged. As minerals are absorbed, the outer surface of the tooth (the enamel) hardens and becomes more resistant to acidic attacks.

Molar teeth have grooves in their biting surfaces, and research shows that the kind of bacteria found in these grooves will determine the population of bacteria for the whole mouth. This is why it is important to ensure the mouth is populated with healthy bacteria before the eruption of molar teeth.

The use of a dilute 0.05% sodium fluoride rinse at this time, in conjunction with the xylitol regimen, will encourage the natural maturation for these teeth. For a child with healthy teeth, stronger fluoride in-office treatments may not benefit as much as the use of regular home rinsing with very dilute fluoride rinse.

Molar Sealants

This is the age when your dentist may suggest placing plastic sealants on your child’s new molar teeth. Parents should be aware of the pros and cons of sealants before agreeing to this treatment.

11 – 12 years old

At age 11 the pre-molars on the sides of the mouth are coming in, baby teeth continue to fall out and the 12-year molars and wisdom teeth begin to erupt. For the first time, permanent teeth are lining up in the mouth and touching each other, and cavity-causing bacteria can now get caught between them. Proper brushing with a clean brush, rinsing with dilute 0.05% sodium fluoride and using xylitol regularly is the key to healthy teeth for the preteen.

Cleaning children’s teeth

By age 6, children should start protecting their teeth with a fluoride rinse before bed. It is necessary to be able to rinse and spit before using any rinse products.

Newly erupted front teeth often look yellow and dirty in comparison to the baby teeth, a consequence of the soft enamel covering newly erupted teeth. Parents should encourage the use of xylitol and ACT dilute fluoride rinsing to encourage maturation of these teeth, hardening of the outer enamel. As the enamel hardens, the color of the front teeth will improve and become whiter. Around age 8-9 is a time when your child may be ready to use the complete mouth care system of rinses, developing a feel for really clean teeth and enjoying bright tooth color and accolades from the dentist.

Xylitol can help prevent up to 70% of tooth decay. Xylitol mints and gum makes it easier for you to give your children the “gift of healthy teeth” by protecting teeth from acids, controlling unhealthy bacteria and helping to rebuild any damaged teeth. Your children will love the sweet taste of xylitol. You will love the fact that every time they eat xylitol, their teeth are being protected.

Teens

Gum Disease

Hormonal changes related to puberty, athletics, orthodontics, and certain cosmetic treatments put teens at risk for gum disease. Young adults must be instructed that they need to brush more and pay attention to any area that bleeds, as this is the first sign of disease.

Harmful bacteria will incubate on toothbrushes stored in a bag or under cover. Instead they should be washed in Listerine, rinsed off and stored dry (preferably away from an open toilet). UV sanitizers are another option.

Athletics

Children involved in sports, dance, or other high-energy activities often drink acidic sports drinks and juices. The damage may be worse because of dehydration and mouth breathing, which causes dry mouth. Damage can be prevented and even reversed by eating xylitol frequently.

Orthodontics

Brushing and flossing around braces is difficult, so teens should be encouraged to consume drinks with 100 percent xylitol, avoid products with sorbitol (diet drinks, commercial chewing gums) and rinse with the suggested mouth rinses to avoid white spots or tooth scarring and control gum inflammation.

Bleaching teeth

All bleaching demineralizes a part of the tooth’s outer protective layer, leaving it softer and more porous. This can make teeth sensitive and more prone to staining. When bleaching is performed in a dental office under controlled conditions, the damage is minimized and after care will help remineralize the teeth.

Gum irritation from bleaching products can cause permanent irreparable damage. If there are open cavities or leaking fillings, the bleaching agents can get to the nerves in teeth and may even kill the tooth. Research shows that bleaching causes irritation in the center of a tooth – taking four weeks or more to resolve. In younger teeth, this irritation may cause permanent damage, so bleaching children’s teeth is not recommended.

Rinsing with fluoride after bleaching will provide a protective layer to re-harden teeth. Fluoride and xylitol should be used as often as possible before and after bleaching to minimize damage.

Protecting Teeth with Xylitol

When teeth are covered in plaque, the plaque bacteria produce acids that will damage the tooth surface and soften the teeth, so that your teen may notice their teeth becoming dark and discolored. Suggest the mouth rinse program and regular use of xylitol after snacks, sugary drinks and meals, which helps remove mouth acids and reduces plaque on teeth.

Xylitol mints and gum are effective breath fresheners and make teeth feel shiny and smooth. Teenagers will like the fact that xylitol is all natural and tastes great.