Feb. 9 (iVillage Total Health) -- Is it possible for your son or daughter to reach adulthood without any tooth decay? Dentists say it can happen if parents start early training their children to practice good oral health habits.

"Preventive dental care has greatly improved the oral health of American children," Dr. Kimberly Harms, a dentist and consumer advisor for the American Dental Association (ADA), said in a press release. "It is now possible for many children to reach adulthood without ever experiencing tooth decay and that is why good oral health practices should begin in infancy and continue throughout adult life."

As part of February's observance of Children's Dental Health Month, the ADA is reminding parents to take their children for regular dental check-ups. Small children should have their first dental visit within six months of getting their first tooth but no later than his or her first birthday. Cleanings and fluoride treatments can help keep teeth healthy and protect them against cavities.

Experts say catching dental problems early is the key to good dental health throughout your child's lifetime. For infants, baby bottle tooth decay is a problem that can be avoided with parents' help. The condition occurs when children given sugary liquids such as fruit juices, milk (including breast milk) and other sweet drinks. When the sugar is allowed to remain on the child's teeth (particularly overnight), it allows harmful bacteria to build up in the mouth and cause tooth decay.

The ADA offers this advice to prevent early childhood cavities:

• Clear your baby's mouth after every feeding by wiping his or her gums with a damp cloth or gauze pad. This helps to remove plaque and other debris from the teeth.

• Do not let your child breastfeed for long periods of time and do not give children bottles before bed or nap time. Allowing the milk, formula, sugar water or juice to remain on the teeth overnight or for extended periods can be harmful for their teeth.

• Try to have children drinking from a cup -- rather than a bottle -- by their first birthdays.

• Encourage children to develop healthy eating habits early and to choose nutritious snacks.

Dentists also encourage parents to ask for sealants for their children's teeth. These protective plastic materials are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent decay. Cavities are more common in these back teeth, which can be harder to reach with a toothbrush. Sealants can also cover pits, grooves and fissures -- normal depressions on the surface of teeth -- that can harbor bacteria.

Tooth injury is another dental hazard for children of all ages. According to the National Safety Council, more than 2 million teeth are knocked out each year due to various mishaps. Dentists urge parents to protect their children's teeth by insisting they wear mouth guards and mouth protectors when engaging in recreational activities such as sports, roller skating, bicycling and skateboarding.

If your child's tooth is knocked out, it can be saved if you act quickly to get the tooth and child to a dentist. If a permanent tooth is partially knocked out, try to gently but firmly push it back into place. If the tooth is completely knocked out, pick up the tooth by the crown at the top, not by the root of the tooth. The tooth should be rinsed (but not scrubbed) in saline (water and salt) solution or milk, which is chemically similar to a tooth. The tooth can also be soaked in a cup with the solution.

If possible, gently replace the tooth in the socket to preserve it during the trip to the dentist. Then, have the child bite down on a gauze pad until reaching the dentist. If the tooth cannot be replaced in this way, place it in a glass of milk. You can also properly preserve the tooth by placing the tooth inside their mouths between the cheek and gum. As a last resort, the tooth can be placed in a mild saltwater solution (1/4 teaspoon of salt to 1 quart of water) or wrapped in tissue.

Copyright 2007 iVillage Total Health.