One of the toddler behaviors that some children seem to pick up is the habit of biting.

This is a very difficult habit to break. Children often use their mouths to show emotion and to learn about things. When their teeth begin to grow in they nibble on just about everything they can get their hands on. Unfortunately sometimes they get their hands on a brother or sister.

In play groups this type of behavior has to be controlled. A human bite can bring disease with it. Not to mention that you can bring blood and any illness that the other child may have can be exposed to your child also.

So parents with kids that bite need to take it very seriously for the safety of other children as well as their own.

I have found that parents who begin good dental care with children and get the child used to their teeth and the process in cleaning them often do not have biting issues with them child.

My oldest daughter and now the mother of three boys totally agrees with this. She had more time to work with her first son in good dental control. She will tell you she did not have the same time to spend with their second son and he is a "biter."

Training a child to stop destructive behavior is often harder than discouraging it as it begins. "Oh how cute" is not an appropriate response to a child biting or putting his mouth on something that could be potentially a problem.

Retraining him not to bite is taking time. Needless to say his older brother is not enjoying getting bit much either.

From the very first day a child is born you can use a child's sponge that fits over the finger to wipe the baby's gums after feeding. Good dental care from birth is one of the best ways to teach your child what teeth are for and what brushing them is all about.

Will it stop them from biting? Well that depends on the child and how dental care is taught. I have noticed a big decrease in biting in my grandson as we have taught him how to use his baby tooth brush and taught him more about his teeth. The rest remains to be seen.