Caries

By Jocelyn Maminta (WTNH) – Tooth decay in children between two to five years old is on the rise. But two Connecticut dentists have come up with a unique way to keep those pearly whites clean even before babies start teething. To help babies and toddlers keep their teeth looking good, Dr. Grace Lo and her husband have come up with Tooth Tissues, disposable dental wipes. “Tooth Tissues contain Xylitol, which is a natural cavity fighter. But the texture of the tissue itself is very effective in removing plaque,” Dr. Lo explained. The big concern is bottle decay. “We encourage parents to start oral hygiene even before the teeth have erupted into the mouth because we know that getting that milk out is going to decrease the bacteria and when the teeth erupt into the mouth, it will be a much cleaner environment to come into,” Dr. Lo said. Dr. Lo says milk formula and breast milk have sugar and keeping babies’ mouth clean now will help prevent serious dental problems as they grow older. The tissues are easy to use – just wrap it around a finger and wipe down cheeks, gums and teeth. Olivera Bennic has been using the all-natural products on her seven month old son Matej since he was born. “They’re very good for babies, they’re soft, they don’t have a flavor, they don’t have like taste you know,” she said. Another benefit: it gets baby used to oral stimulation, so when a toothbrush is introduced, it’s not so challenging. Dr. Lo recommends using the Tooth Tissues when the baby is …