Leading pediatric dental expert, Dr. Barry L. Jacobson, says that tooth decay is a serious and growing problem among New York area children.

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, May 6, 2014 /EINPresswire.com/ -- “Tooth decay has become a major issue for New York’s young children and their parents,” says Dr. Barry L. Jacobson, DMD, FAAPD, (www.949pediatricdentistry.com), a New York pediatric dentist who recently opened a new office at 949 Park Avenue, in Manhattan. “This is why I have been actively urging parents to take steps such as limiting their kids’ sugary snack and drink intake.”

Dr. Barry Jacobson also advises brushing with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste and having a wellness exam around the time of a child’s first birthday.

“In the past few years, we have seen an increase in tooth decay among children under age six,” explains Dr. Jacobson. “In fact, statistics show that sixty percent of children show signs of tooth decay by age five. In my opinion, this is unacceptable and alarming, considering the fact that tooth decay in children, also known as early childhood caries, is preventable.”

According to Dr. Barry Jacobson, tooth decay in children is not hard to see, even for parents.

“A child’s teeth should be white all over. If there are black or brown spots the child may have decay and should be seen by a dentist,” he says. “If a child has tooth pain, it is even more imperative that the parent schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist immediately.”

According to Dr. Barry Jacobson, parents can help prevent tooth decay in children by brushing their teeth twice a day, with toothpaste that contains fluoride and, as mentioned earlier, by avoiding foods and drinks that contain sugar.

“Tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste should begin when the child first gets teeth,” says Dr. Jacobson, “and it is important to use the correct amount of toothpaste.”

For children under age 3, Dr. Barry Jacobson says that a "smear" or "grain size" amount of tooth paste should be put on the brush. For children 3 to 6, a "pea size" should be used.

“The amount of toothpaste is important because young children are not able to easily spit out the tooth paste,” he explains.

Parents should brush the child’s teeth until the age of seven or eight, according to Dr. Barry Jacobson. After that, the child can brush their teeth on their own.

“By starting the routine of brushing twice daily from an early age, there should be little objection from the child when it comes time to taking care of brushing on his or her own,” Dr. Barry Jacobson concludes. “However, parents should always insist that their child brush their teeth. In the end, any effort to prevent childhood tooth decay is certainly worth it.”

For 17 years, Dr. Barry L. Jacobson DMD, FAAPD, has been a leader in pediatric dental care and treatment of baby bottle tooth decay. His practice, located at 949 Park Avenue, New York, NY, offers laser dentistry for children, cosmetic dentistry for children, preoperative dental care for children, soft tissue procedures, 3D CAD-CAM crown fabrication, porcelain fillings, and treatment of fearful children, with behavior management experts on hand. Call 212-997-6453 (212-99-SMILE) for more information or visit Dr. Jacobson’s website at www.949pediatricdentistry.com).

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