How should I clean my baby's teeth?
A toothbrush with soft bristles designed for infants is the best choice. Brushing at least once a day, at bedtime, will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay and gingivitis.
At what age should my child have his/her first dental visit?
"First visit by first birthday" is the general rule. To prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, usually between 6 and 12 months of age, certainly no later than his/her first birthday.
Why should my child see a pediatric dentist instead of our regular family dentist?
Pediatric dentists focus on the oral health of young people. Following dental school, a pediatric dentist has two to three years additional specialty training in the unique needs of infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health needs.
What is "BABY BOTTLE MOUTH SYNDROME" and how can I prevent it?
Baby bottle mouth syndrome is a pattern of rapid dental decay associated with prolonged nursing. It occurs when a child goes to sleep while breast-feeding and/or bottle-feeding. During sleep, the flow of saliva is reduced and the natural self-cleansing action of the mouth is diminished. Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bedtime bottle. Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. He/she should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.
Can thumbsucking be harmful for my child's teeth?
Thumb and pacifier sucking habits over an extended period of time can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. Sometimes the pediatric dentist will recommend the use of an appliance to help the child break the habit. Most children stop these habits on their own.
What are dental sealants and how do they work?
Sealants are a resin material usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the teeth. The resin acts as a barrier, protecting the enamel from bactrial plaque in cavity-prone areas.
When should my child start using toothpaste?
It is recommended your child use fluoridated toothpaste when they learn not to swallow the toothpaste. Earlier than that, clean your child's teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. After age 3, parents should supervise brushing. Use no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and make sure children do not swallow excess toothpaste.
How safe are dental X-rays?
With the use of leading-edge digital x-ray equipment, the amount of exposure for your child has been greatly reduced. In fact, dental X-rays represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.
My child plays sports. How should I protect my child's teeth?
A mouth guard should be a top priority on your child's list of sports equipment. Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic and fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth. They protect a child's teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sports-related injuries. Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard, but a custom-fitted mouth guard fitted by our doctor is your child's best protection against sports-related injuries.
When do the first teeth start to erupt?
At about 6 months, the two lower front teeth (central incisors) will erupt, followed shortly by the two upper central incisors. The remainder of the baby teeth appear during the next 18 to 24 months but not necessarily in an orderly sequence from front to back. At 2 to 3 years, all of these 20 primary teeth should be present.
What should I do if my child knocks out a permanent tooth?
First of all, remain calm. If possible, find the tooth and hold it by the crown rather than the root. Rinse the tooth and replace it in the socket, hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you can't put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk and take your child and the glass immediately to the pediatric dentist. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.
How can I help my child through the teething stage?
Sore gums when teeth erupt are part of the normal eruption process. The discomfort is eased for some children by use of a teething biscuit, a piece of toast or a cold teething ring. Your pharmacy should also have medications that can be rubbed on the gums to reduce the discomfort. Please follow the application instructions and frequency.
I noticed a space between my child's two upper front teeth. Is this cause for concern?
Usually, the space will close in the next few years as the other front teeth erupt.
If my child gets a cavity in a baby tooth, should it still be filled?
Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also hold the space for the permanent teeth to erupt. Some children may loose their last baby molar by the age of 12. Pain, infection of the gums and jaws, impairment of general health and premature loss of teeth are just a few of the problems that can happen when baby teeth are neglected. Also, because tooth decay is really an infection and will spread, decay on baby teeth can cause decay on permanent teeth. Proper care of baby teeth is instrumental in enhancing the health of the your child.
What causes tooth decay?
Four things are necessary for cavities to form -- a tooth, bacteria, sugars or other carbohydrates and time. Dental plaque is a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone's teeth. When you eat, the sugars in your food cause the bacteria in plaque to produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. With time and repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity forms.