Parents’ skills should ‘guard against tooth decay’

A top pediatric dentist has offered parenting advice when it comes to dental health.

Dr James Masser, who has treated children in California for 26 years, has explained that baby teeth are as susceptible to decay as adult teeth.

The expert explained that parents need to make sure their children are eating healthily and looking after their teeth, as any kind of dental problem in childhood could prove painful.

He said that over the course of his career in Sacramento County he has planted stainless steel crowns on children’s teeth, suggesting that when decay strikes milk teeth they can sometimes be so damaged they need to be removed.

"Parents think they get a free ride on the first set," Dr Musser told the Times News.

"But baby teeth can decay and abscess, and the child can go through severe pain," he added.

As well as protecting their children’s teeth, parents in the US are keen to ensure their children are eating healthy and balanced diet.

Recent research from Disney Family has revealed that two-thirds of American parents are concerned about the nutritional value of the food their children eat and would like to use their parenting skills to keep their kids healthy.