What You Don't Know About Kids and Cavities
June 14, 2012 11:12 AM
AAPD Vice President & Spokesperson Dr. Edward H. Moody and AAPD Spokesperson Dr. Cynthia L. Hipp were interviewed by Everyday Health.com for an article on kids and cavities. Excerpts from the eight different culprits of cavities included the following:
"Bad brushing and flossing habits can take a bite out of a kid’s dental health, says Edward H. Moody Jr., DDS, a pediatric dentist in Morristown, Tenn., and national spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Areas particularly at risk for kids’ cavities are around the gum line of back teeth and in between teeth. Young children don’t have the ability to brush and floss by themselves, so Mom and Dad need to step in and help healthy teeth thrive, Dr. Moody says.
"Sharing utensils, blowing on food, and — yes — even kissing that sweet little bundle of joy on the mouth can pass along these bacteria, says Cynthia L. Hipp, DDS, an associate professor and pediatric dentistry program director at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and director of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Practicing good dental health care yourself, like proper brushing and flossing, can stop the spread of cavity-causing bacteria, she says. As a bonus, you’ll be setting a great example for your kids.