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Evie's Desk

Oral Health and Nutrition

Part of First 5 LA's mission is to educate L.A. parents on how to best care for their children’s health. Yesterday we had the opportunity to reach thousands of L.A. parents by participating in Hot 93.1's morning radio show, Community Review, to discuss tips on how to maintain a child's oral health. First 5 LA Program Officer Dr. Conrado Bargaza and Public Affairs Director Carol Baker shared a dynamic conversation with 93.1 radio personality Josephina Solis about the persistence of dental health problems in L.A. County's kids, and ways to prevent them.

If you did not get to hear the program, or did and would like to have a copy of the recommended tips, I have listed them below for your review. Tooth pain is the number one reason children miss school, and yet it is almost 100 percent preventable, so please pass on these tips, and use them with your own children if you have them, to keep them healthy, strong, and in school.

Early Dental Health Tips

• Visit the dentist before first birthday for regular checkups. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants receive oral health risk assessments by 6 months of age.


• Wipe your baby's gums with gauze or a soft wet washcloth. Even before your baby's first tooth appears, it's a good idea to get into the habit of wiping his gums with gauze or a soft wet washcloth, especially after feedings. You don't need to use any toothpaste yet. Simply wrap the cloth or gauze around your index finger and rub it gently over the gums.


• Do not let your baby fall asleep in the crib with a bottle of milk, juice or other sugary liquid. Prevention is the key to prevent baby bottle tooth decay. Baby teeth hold a place and serve as spacers for the permanent teeth. Decay and early loss of these baby teeth can cause loss of space for the permanent teeth, which leads to the permanent teeth shifting and thus leads to orthodontic problems for your child.


• Help brush your child’s teeth until the age of eight. Children under the age of 8 don’t have the coordination to brush their teeth by themselves. They can get the process started, but a parent needs to make sure that the child’s teeth are properly clean.

• Breastfeed. Breast milk is the healthiest food you can give your baby. Breastmilk prevents the occurrence of rampant early childhood cavities and it also reduces the risk of your child becoming overweight.


• Introduce solid food at 6 months. Nutrition experts recommend not introducing solids until 6 months. When age appropriate, have children snack on healthy vegetables and fruits which will provide nutrients for children’s gums, such as vitamins A and C.


• Choose water instead of soda or juice to prevent cavities and overweight issues. Give your child water rather than juice or soda when thirsty. After 6 months of age, one small serving of juice a day is sufficient. It is also recommended that you dilute juice by adding an equal amount of water.


• Choose fresh fruit or cheese instead of sugary sweets and high fat junk food. Choose fresh foods such as: fresh fruit thinly sliced or cut into small pieces, whole-grain crackers, cheese cut into thin slices or shredded. These foods are high in nutrients. Try to avoid prepackaged, processed ones, which tend to be high in sugar, salt, and fat, which can lead to overweight children and tooth decay.