| When should
your child first visit the dentist? top  Visit the
dentist by the child's first birthday. Although this may seem early, the dentist can make
sure that you are using the right cleaning techniques. The dentist can also determine if
there are any problems with the child's primary teeth.
Children should
receive an optimal amount of fluoride, a mineral needed for the development of
decay-resistant teeth. Whether or not you live in a community that has fluoridated water,
ask your dentist about how your child can get the right amount of fluoride.
By spending a
few minutes each day to care for your baby's teeth, you can be certain your child's smile
will get off to a healthy start.
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Why are the primary teeth important?
 It is very
important that primary teeth are kept until they are lost naturally. They serve a number
of important functions:
Help maintain
good nutrition by permitting your child to chew properly.
Important in
allowing good pronunciation and speech habits.
Help your child
feel good about they way he/she looks to others.
 Primary teeth also help guide the
proper eruption of the permanent teeth. When primary teeth are lost too early, the space
that is left should be maintained by a "space maintainer" to ensure that there
will be enough room for the permanent teeth when they erupt. Your pediatric dentist has
the knowledge required to apply both preventive and corrective techniques, which will
maintain the health of your child's teeth. Many times he/she can make a minor correction
that will eliminate major dental work later.
This
model illustrates how the baby teeth act as natural space maintainers for the developing
permanent teeth.
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What is baby
bottle tooth decay?
Baby
bottle tooth decay is a dental condition that can destroy the teeth of an infant or young
child. Those most likely to be damaged are the upper front teeth, the ones that make such
a difference in your child's smile, but other teeth may also be affected by this
condition.
Baby
bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent exposure of a child's teeth for long periods
of time to liquids containing sugars. Among these liquids are milk, formula, fruit juice,
and other sweetened liquids. The sugars in these liquids are used as an energy source by
the bacteria in plaque, the thin, almost invisible film of bacteria and byproducts that
constantly forms on the teeth. In the process, the bacteria produce acids that attack
tooth enamel. Each time your child drinks a liquid containing sugars, acids attack the
child's teeth for at least 20 minutes. After many such attacks, dental caries (tooth
decay) can occur.
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When should I start cleaning my baby's teeth?
The
sooner the better. Starting at birth, clean your baby's gums with a clean, damp washcloth.
As soon as teeth erupt, begin using a very small, soft-bristled toothbrush. Later, a small
dab of fluoride toothpaste can be added.
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How
can I help my child become cavity-free?
The
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises:
Brush
with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
Brush
and floss children's teeth once a day until they are able to do it themselves –
around age 7 or 8.
Visit
your pediatric dentist regularly.
Get
enough fluoride through drinking water, fluoride products, and, when indicated, through
fluoride supplements.
Have
sealants applied to the chewing surfaces of permanent back teeth or molars soon after they
come in.
Snack
moderately – no more than twice a day.
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When can I
expect my child's teeth to erupt?
Children's
teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4 months, the first primary (or baby) teeth
to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper
central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and
order of their eruption varies.
Permanent
teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central
incisors. Click here to see a chart showing the eruption of the primary teeth.
Adults
have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third molars (or wisdom teeth). Click
here to see a chart showing the eruption of the permanent
teeth.
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What should I
do during dental emergencies?
Contact
Dr. Brown as soon as possible!
Find
the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. (Do not scrub it or clean it with soap –
just use water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and 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, saliva, or water. Get to Dr. Brown's office immediately. Call
the emergency number if it is after hours. The faster you act, the better your chances of
saving the tooth.
Contact
your pediatric dentist immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and
reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold
compresses to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with
you to our office.
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If our water supply is fluoridated, should my child also use fluoridated toothpaste?
Absolutely.
It was once believed that dietary fluoride (fluoride taken into the body through food and
water) was more effective than topical fluoride (fluoride applied to the teeth with
toothpaste, mouth rinses or in-office fluoride treatments). Today, professionals maintain
that both sources of fluoride are equally influential in preventing tooth decay.
Toothpaste provides daily fluoride boots that are necessary in keeping your child's teeth
cavity-free.
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Is
it possible to get too much fluoride?
Parents
often worry about too much fluoride, a condition that can cause dental fluorosis. Your
pediatric dentist will assess the amount of fluoride your child is receiving from drinking
water, toothpastes, mouth rinses, and in-office fluoride treatments and also will consider
the need for a dietary fluoride supplement.
The
tiny percentage of children who develop severe dental fluorosis typically consume
over-fluoridated water on a regular basis or eat their toothpaste. The U.S. Public Health
Service assures us that water fluoridation is safe and effective.
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Is
thumb sucking harmful?
Sucking is a natural reflex, and
infants and young children may use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other objects on which
to suck. It may make them feel secure and happy or provide a sense of security at
difficult periods. Since thumb sucking is relaxing, it may induce sleep.
 Thumb
sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth will cause problems with
the proper growth of the mouth and tooth alignment. How intensely a child sucks on fingers
or thumbs will determine whether or not dental problems may result. Children who rest
their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have difficulty than those who
vigorously suck their thumbs.
Children
should cease thumb sucking by the time their permanent front teeth are ready to erupt.
Usually children stop between the ages of two and four. Peer pressure causes many
school-aged children to stop.
A
few suggestions to help your child get through thumb sucking:
Instead
of scolding children for thumb sucking, praise them when they are not.
Children
often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure. Focus on correcting the cause of anxiety
instead of thumb sucking.
Children
who are sucking for comfort will feel less of a need when their parents provide comfort.
Reward
children when they refrain from sucking during difficult periods, such as when being
separated from their parents.
Your
pediatric dentist can encourage children to stop sucking and explain what could happen if
they continue.
If
these approaches don't work, remind the children of their habit by putting a glove on
their hand at night. A habit appliance may be recommended to discourage the use of the
thumb.
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Are
sealants necessary?
A sealant is a clear shaded plastic material that is applied to the
chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars), where decay occurs most often.
This sealant acts as a barrier, protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth from plaque
and acid.
When the teeth are developing, depressions and grooves form in the
chewing surfaces of the enamel. These features are called pits and fissures. They are
impossible to keep clean because the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach into them.
Therefore, pits and fissures are snug places for plaque and bits of food to hide. By
forming a thin covering over the pits and fissures, sealants keep out plaque and food, and
thus decrease the risk of decay.
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Is
there anything that can be done to make sure that my child's teeth come in straight?
Fortunately,
orthodontic treatment has come a long way, especially with early intervention procedures.
As your pediatric dentist monitors your child's development, he or she can teach your
child to avoid oral habits that encourage orthodontic problems. Your pediatric dentist
also can identify malocclusion (abnormal dental alignment) right away and actively
intervene to guide the teeth as they emerge in the mouth. Many times, early orthodontic
treatment can prevent more extensive treatment later. Though your child may need braces,
early orthodontic treatment will improve your child's occlusion and facial growth.
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What
are the advantages of tooth-colored fillings?
Because
composite resins are tooth-colored, they look more natural than other filling materials.
Your child can smile, talk and eat with confidence. In addition, tooth-colored fillings
are compatible with dental sealants. A tooth can be filled and sealed at the same time to
prevent further decay. These preventive resin restorations conserve tooth structure and
have excellent aesthetics.
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What
are the disadvantages of tooth-colored fillings?
First,
tooth-colored fillings are not for every tooth. They work best in small restorations and
low-stress areas. For example, a tooth-colored filling may not be recommended for a large
cavity or for the chewing surface of a back tooth. Second, tooth-colored fillings may cost
slightly more than silver fillings because they take longer to place. The tooth has to be
kept absolutely dry for the tooth-colored filling to bond properly.
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