y the time a child sees the dentist for the first time, it is likely that 1 in 5 will have some form of tooth decay.

The good news is that tooth decay in children can often be prevented when parents are proactive.

“Oral health is a window to our overall health. The earlier we learn to take better care of our mouths, the better our long term lives will be,” said Dr. Samer Mansour, statewide NCDHM chair and Pennsylvania Dental Association’s member dentist practicing in Erie.

PDA encourages parents to help their children develop good habits at an early age, including:

1. Brush teeth twice a day, for at least two minutes each time. Help your kids brush their teeth two minutes each time, twice a day — for healthier teeth, fresh breath, fewer cavities and to avoid painful dental problems.

2. Floss between teeth at least once a day. Break off about 18 inches of floss (the length from a fingertip to your elbow) and use it to floss younger kids’ teeth or teach older kids how to do it themselves.

3. Establish healthy eating habits for your child. Offer a variety of foods from the five major food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains and meat/poultry/fish. A balanced diet helps keep your children’s teeth and gums healthy. A diet high in natural or added sugars may place your child at extra risk for tooth decay.

4. Visit the dentist every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning. Seeing a dentist regularly is important for good oral health. Dentists can detect small problems before they become bigger, more painful problems. Your child could have oral health problems you don’t know about like cavities or gum disease.

5. If your child is involved in any contact sport or recreational activity, he or she should always wear a mouthguard. Examples of contact sports include football, field hockey, ice hockey, baseball, basketball, softball, wrestling, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, in-line skating and martial arts.

6. Find out if your water supply contains fluoride. According to the American Dental Association, 75 years of our best scientific evidence indicates that community water fluoridation is safe and effective. Drinking water with fluoride (also known as “nature’s cavity fighter”) has been shown to reduce cavities by 25%.

Learning about oral health can be informative and fun at the same time for kids of all ages. Visit PDA’s online Kids’ Corner at www.padental.org/kidscorner for interactive games and activities, information on brushing and flossing nutritional information and more.