Columbus Parent Magazine

"You should brush your teeth twice a day, and you should always rinse with mouthwash," said Catherine.

That's good advice, but dentists at Nationwide Children's Hospital say it might not be enough to slow down the rising rate of cavities in kids. A recent study by the National Center for Health Statistics found that tooth decay in primary teeth (or baby teeth) of children 2 to 5 years of age increased from 24 percent to 28 percent between 1988-1994 and 1999-2004. The trend is the worst it has been in decades, with no signs of slowing.

"We think diet has a lot to do with it," said Al Burns, DDS, a dentist at Nationwide Children's dental clinic. "High sugar diets and frequent snacking are damaging kids' teeth."

It's not only what kids are eating, but also what they are drinking that is causing problems. Instead of milk or water, many kids are drinking more juice and soda, both of which contain significant amounts of sugar. When kids do drink water, many parents are opting for pure bottled water, so kids are missing out on the fluoride they get from the tap.

"Fluoride is still considered the number one preventive mechanism that we have against tooth decay," said Paul Casamassimo, DDS, MS, chief of dentistry at Nationwide Children's Hospital and a faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

According to Casamassimo, although children will eventually lose their baby teeth, cavities still pose a serious health risk. Severe tooth decay in these very young children can lead to infections that result in pain, permanent damage to teeth and gums, and even death. The cost of treating severe tooth decay can be expensive and time-consuming for families.

Dentists at Nationwide Children's recommend parents omit the juice and soda and instead offer plenty of milk and tap water with meals and throughout the day. They also urge parents to take their children to the dentist as soon as their teeth start to appear -- even before their first birthday.

These days, Catherine is taking her dentist's advice to heart, and she has a beautiful smile to prove it.

When it comes to preventing tooth decay and cavities, dentists at Nationwide Children's say parents can take two extra steps to help protect children's teeth.

First, dentists recommend the use of fluoride. Fluoride can be painted directly on the teeth when a child is 3 years old or younger. Dentists usually use a tray filled with fluoride for children ages 4 and up. When children bite down on the tray, their teeth are coated with the cavity-fighting solution. Both procedures are administered by a dental professional at the end of a cleaning appointment and are terrific supplements to the daily use of fluoride toothpaste.

The second step to help safeguard against cavities is the use of sealants. Sealants can be useful in helping to prevent tooth decay in adult teeth, which begin to erupt at age 5 or 6. First, the teeth are well-cleaned, and then a thin paint-like coating is placed over the tooth, sealing up grooves and fissures in the tooth. These are the most common places for decay to develop. Sealants can last for years and protect a child well into adolescence, sparing adult teeth from cavities, as long as good oral hygiene is maintained.

Dentists at Nationwide Children's say the use of fluoride and sealants, in addition to good oral home care and a healthy diet, can lead to a cavity-free mouth for many years.

• Limit exposure to sugary foods
• Limit snacking between meals
• Limit sugary drinks, such as soda and juice
• Drink milk with meals
• Choose tap water instead of bottled
• Brush teeth at least twice a day
• Visit a dentist as soon as first teeth appear
• Begin brushing as soon as first teeth appear
• Avoid rinsing after brushing to keep fluoride on the teeth longer
• Parents should brush their children's teeth until at least 5 to 6 years of age
• Ask your dentist for fluoride treatments and sealants when appropriate