With Ebola and the protests in Hong Kong as big stories in the news these days, this may seem like small potatoes to you but I'll pass it on anyway.

     There are new guidelines for fluoride use in children.  NYC tap water has the optimal concentration of fluoride so there's no need to get additional fluoride lozenges or fluoride drops. If you as a parent are taking an active role in keeping your child's teeth clean every day and if you are taking your child to a dental office when the first teeth come in, then you're already ahead of the game.

     Here is my latest article for Japanese newspaper, BiDaily Sun. Have fun reading! Hope you're enjoying and learning something new with the articles.

Dear Diary… New News for Kids

Most people don’t think of cavities as a disease but it is. It is considered the most common chronic disease in children in the United States especially in the poor, young and minority population.  You see, just calling it a cavity makes it seem just OK. But once you call it a disease, well, that makes it seem a lot more serious, doesn’t it?

I was reading in the dental news journal today and I learned something new! In life, I think it’s important to learn something new everyday.  It makes life so much more interesting!  This article quoted a report by the American Academy of Pediatrics in September 2014.   In this report, they gave out new guidelines for fluoride use in children.  Let me share it with you.

Fluoridated toothpaste is recommended for all children starting when they get their first baby teeth. This is regardless of the risk of cavities.

Fluoridated toothpaste the size of a grain of rice should be used up to age 3. 

After age 3, fluoridated toothpaste the size of a pea may be used.

As always, parents should squeeze out the correct amount of toothpaste and supervise and assist with brushing.  This is to make sure all the teeth are cleaned.

Paint-on fluoride in the dental office is recommended every 3 to 6 months starting when the baby teeth come in.

A fluoride rinse is not recommended for children under 6 years old.  This will cut down the risk of swallowing too much fluoride.

With these new guidelines, I hope I can reach a lot of parents.  Every parent wants the best for their child and as dentistry is always improving, I will pass on the information for improving your child’s dental care to you.  If there are any questions about the new guidelines or the anything else, please feel free to call my office.