Children should not be put to bed with or fall asleep with a bottle containing anything other than water. Bottle feeding just before bed can cause a tremendous increase in the risk of tooth decay. Always make sure that the milk or formula has been cleaned from their teeth before falling asleep. Feeding with a bottle should be ceased by 1214 months of age to lower the risk of decay. Drinking juice or any sweetened drinks from a bottle should be avoided.
At first, cleaning the teeth can be done without toothpaste or with a nonfluoridated, infant/toddler toothpaste. Once your child has the ability to spit (usually age 23), you can start using a fluoridated toothpaste twice a day. All you need is half a pea-sized amount.
There are many reasons primary or baby teeth are important for your child. They allow children to chew properly, speak clearly, and they also help to form a path for the permanent teeth to follow when it is time for them to erupt.
Most children do not have the manual dexterity to brush every surface of every tooth in their mouth until about 78 years of age. A good rule of thumb: when they can tie their shoes completely on their own they may have developed the necessary dexterity.
Many children have gaps between their teeth when they first erupt. The back teeth get closer together over time. Daily flossing (with a parents help) should begin as soon as the first teeth come in contact with each other. In some children, the first two teeth are already in contact.
Your saliva helps to protect your teeth by decreasing the acidity in your mouth (raising the pH) which lowers the rate of decay. At night, your saliva production almost completely ceases, so its very important that there is no plaque on the teeth while you sleep.
Thumb sucking is perfectly normal for infants and most stop the habit on their own by age 2. Most children also stop using the pacifier on their own. If your child does not stop thumb or finger sucking or the use of a pacifier on their own, discourage the habit after age 4. Prolonged thumb or finger sucking or pacifier use can create crowded, crooked teeth and bite problems. Your pediatric dentist can help you with advice and techniques to help stop the habit.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that every child have their first dental visit by their first birthday or within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth. This allows the dentist to monitor the development of the oral tissues and gives the parents a resource for information about their childs oral care.
Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. The pediatric dentist has been through 23 additional years of rigorous specialized training after dental school focusing on the unique needs of children from infancy through adolescence. This also includes training in the care of children with special needs.
That depends on the childs age and development. The pediatric dentist will usually examine children under 3 with the child in their parents lap, kneetoknee with the dentist. We like to carefully introduce new things like the dental chair, prophy brush, and suction equipment to each child in a fun way when they are at an age to enjoy it.
With the newest developments in ultra high-speed film and advances in xray technology, dental xrays are very low-dose systems. Digital xray systems (like the one we use) are much more sensitive than film systems, so xray exposure is cut even further by as much as 8090 percent.
Dental xrays are one of the most useful tools dentists use in helping patients maintain their oral health. They help dentists diagnose common problems such as cavities, periodontal disease and infections, as well as less common conditions like abscesses, tumors and cysts. Xrays can also allow the dentist to see whether a childs permanent teeth are erupting properly with the correct spacing as well as check for any missing or extra teeth which may be developing in the jaws. Children generally need xrays more often than adults because their mouths are growing and changing rapidly and they are more susceptible to tooth decay than adults.
Sealants are a protective coating placed over the pits and grooves on the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars. They are made of a plastic material and act as a barrier to food and bacteria that can cause decay in these pits and grooves. If your child has good oral hygiene and avoids chewing on hard objects, sealants can last for years, protecting their back teeth during the most cavityprone years.
Find the tooth. Only rinse the tooth if it has dirt on it do not scrub the tooth or clean it with anything other than water. If possible, holding the tooth by the crown, replace the tooth into the socket and hold it there with gauze or a clean wash cloth. If you cannot put the tooth back into the socket, place it into a clean container with either milk, or the childs saliva. Get to the pediatric dentists office quickly (or call if it is after hours). Your chances of saving the tooth increase the faster you act.
Call your pediatric dentist and visit the office promptly. To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress. Analgesics can also help. Your childs dentist will be able to explain the next course of action.
Please alert the office if you have a medical condition that may be of concern prior to treatment (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, artificial heart valves and joints, rheumatic fever, etc.) or if you are on any medication (i.e. heart medications, aspirin, anticoagulant therapy, etc.).
If your dentist or physician has taken X-rays, please have them forwarded to our office as they may be helpful in our diagnosis. A digital radiograph can be emailed to us. If additional films are necessary, they can be taken at our facility.