Parents choose a pediatric dental specialist for their child’s oral health care just as they would see a pediatrician for medical needs. After completing a four-year dental school curriculum, two to three additional years of rigorous training is required to become a pediatric dentist. This specialized program of study and hands-on experience prepares pediatric dentists to meet the unique needs of infants, children and adolescents, including children with special health care needs.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), your child should visit the dentist shortly after the 1st tooth erupts and no later than his/her 1st birthday. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child’s smile now and in the future.
The most important reason to begin so early is to establish a thorough prevention program. Dental problems can begin early. A big concern is Early Childhood Caries (also know as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries). The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily, learn to speak clearly, and smile with confidence. Start your child now on a lifetime of good dental habits.
The most important reason to begin so early is to establish a thorough prevention program. Dental problems can begin early. A big concern is Early Childhood Caries (also know as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries). The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily, learn to speak clearly, and smile with confidence. Start your child now on a lifetime of good dental habits.
It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth. Neglected cavities can and frequently do lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth or baby teeth are important for (1) proper chewing and eating, (2) providing space for the permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position, and (3) permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles. Primary teeth also affect the development of speech and add to an attractive appearance. While the front teeth last until 6-7 years of age, the back teeth aren’t replaced until age 10-13.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is a condition of widespread dental caries in young children caused by frequent and long exposures of an infant’s teeth to liquids that contain sugar including milk, breast milk, formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks.
Putting a baby to bed for a nap or at night with a bottle other than water can cause serious and rapid tooth decay. As your child sleeps the rate of swallowing and salivary flow decreases, and the liquid pools around your child’s teeth giving bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. If you must give your child a bottle as a comfort at bedtime, it should contain only water.
After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or soft toothbrush to remove plaque. The best way to do this is to sit down and place your child’s head in your lap so you can see into your child’s mouth easily.
Putting a baby to bed for a nap or at night with a bottle other than water can cause serious and rapid tooth decay. As your child sleeps the rate of swallowing and salivary flow decreases, and the liquid pools around your child’s teeth giving bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. If you must give your child a bottle as a comfort at bedtime, it should contain only water.
After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or soft toothbrush to remove plaque. The best way to do this is to sit down and place your child’s head in your lap so you can see into your child’s mouth easily.
Begin daily brushing as soon as your child’s first tooth erupts. Brush teeth at least twice a day, after breakfast and before bed using a soft child-sized toothbrush and only a smear-sized amount of toothpaste. Increase toothpaste to a pea-sized amount as your child learns to spit after brushing. At about age three, begin teaching your preschooler to brush by gripping the brush with your child and guiding it around the mouth. Continue to help your child brush until at least age 10-11 to make sure they are doing a thorough job.
Proper brushing removes plaque from the inner, outer and chewing surfaces. When teaching children to brush, place toothbrush at a 45 degree angle; start along gum line with a soft bristle brush in a gentle circular motion. Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower. Repeat the same method on the inside surfaces and chewing surfaces of all the teeth. Finish by brushing the tongue to help freshen breath and remove bacteria.
Flossing removes plaque between the teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing should begin when any two teeth touch. You should floss your child’s teeth until he or she can do it alone.
Proper brushing removes plaque from the inner, outer and chewing surfaces. When teaching children to brush, place toothbrush at a 45 degree angle; start along gum line with a soft bristle brush in a gentle circular motion. Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower. Repeat the same method on the inside surfaces and chewing surfaces of all the teeth. Finish by brushing the tongue to help freshen breath and remove bacteria.
Flossing removes plaque between the teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing should begin when any two teeth touch. You should floss your child’s teeth until he or she can do it alone.
Your child should use toothpaste with fluoride and the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Young children, especially pre-school aged children, should not swallow any toothpaste. Careful supervision and only a small pea-sized amount on the brush are recommended. If not monitored, children may easily swallow over four times the recommended daily amount of fluoride in toothpaste.
Fluoride is documented to be safe and highly effective. Research indicates water fluoridation, the most cost effective method, has decreased the decay rate by over 50 percent. Only small amounts of fluoride are necessary for the maximum benefit. Proper toothpaste amount must be supervised, and other forms of fluoride supplementations must be carefully monitored in order to prevent a potential overdose and unsightly spots on the developing permanent teeth. Do not leave toothpaste tubes where young children can reach them. The flavors that help encourage them to brush may also encourage them to eat toothpaste.
When the element fluoride is used in small amounts on a routine basis it helps to prevent tooth decay. It encourages "remineralization," a strengthening of weak areas on the teeth. These spots are the beginning of cavity formation. Fluoride occurs naturally in water and in many different foods, as well as in dental products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, gels, varnish and supplements. Fluoride is effective when combined with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.
Topical fluoride comes in a number of different forms. Gels and foams are placed in fluoride trays and applied at the dental office after your child's teeth have been thoroughly cleaned. Fluoride varnish is one of the newer forms of topical fluoride applied at the dentist office. It has been documented to be safe and effective to fight dental decay through a long history of use in Europe.
The advantages of varnish are:
Children who benefit the most from fluoride are those at highest risk for dental decay. Risk factors include a history of decay, high sucrose carbohydrate diet, orthodontic appliances and certain medical conditions such as dry mouth.
The advantages of varnish are:
- Easily and quickly applied to the teeth.
- Decreases the potential amount of fluoride digested.
- Continues to "soak" fluoride into the enamel for approximately 24 hours after the original application.
Children who benefit the most from fluoride are those at highest risk for dental decay. Risk factors include a history of decay, high sucrose carbohydrate diet, orthodontic appliances and certain medical conditions such as dry mouth.
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.
Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth can 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.
Pacifiers are no substitute for thumb sucking. They can affect the teeth essentially the same way as sucking fingers and thumbs. However, use of the pacifier can be controlled and modified more easily than the thumb or finger habit. If you notice prolonged and/or vigorous pacifier use or thumb sucking behavior in your child, talk to your pediatric dentist.
Here are some ways to help your child outgrow thumb sucking:
Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth can 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.
Pacifiers are no substitute for thumb sucking. They can affect the teeth essentially the same way as sucking fingers and thumbs. However, use of the pacifier can be controlled and modified more easily than the thumb or finger habit. If you notice prolonged and/or vigorous pacifier use or thumb sucking behavior in your child, talk to your pediatric dentist.
Here are some ways to help your child outgrow thumb sucking:
- Don’t scold your child when they exhibit thumb sucking behavior; instead, praise them when they don’t thumb suck.
- Focus on eliminating the cause of anxiety—thumb sucking is a comfort device that helps children cope with stress or discomfort.
- Praise them when they refrain from the habit during difficult periods.
- Remind the children of their habit by bandaging the thumb or putting a sock on the hand at night.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental check-up at least twice a year for most children. Some children need more frequent dental visits because of increased risk of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns or poor oral hygiene.
Regular dental visits help your child stay cavity-free. Teeth cleanings remove debris that build up on the teeth, irritate the gums and cause decay. Fluoride treatments renew the fluoride content in the enamel, strengthening teeth and preventing cavities. Hygiene instructions improve your child's brushing and flossing, leading to cleaner teeth and healthier gums.
Tooth decay isn't the only reason for a dental visit. We provide an ongoing assessment of changes in your child's oral health. For example, your child may need additional fluoride, dietary changes, or sealants for ideal dental health. We may also identify orthodontic problems and suggest treatment to guide the teeth as they emerge in the mouth.
Regular dental visits help your child stay cavity-free. Teeth cleanings remove debris that build up on the teeth, irritate the gums and cause decay. Fluoride treatments renew the fluoride content in the enamel, strengthening teeth and preventing cavities. Hygiene instructions improve your child's brushing and flossing, leading to cleaner teeth and healthier gums.
Tooth decay isn't the only reason for a dental visit. We provide an ongoing assessment of changes in your child's oral health. For example, your child may need additional fluoride, dietary changes, or sealants for ideal dental health. We may also identify orthodontic problems and suggest treatment to guide the teeth as they emerge in the mouth.
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 sequence and timing of their eruption may vary.
Permanent teeth begin erupting around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.
Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third molars (or wisdom teeth).
Permanent teeth begin erupting around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.
Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third molars (or wisdom teeth).
TOOTH DEVELOPMENT
The following steps will help your child be part of the cavity-free generation:
- Beware of frequent snacking
- Brush effectively twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Floss once a day
- Have sealants applied when appropriate
- Seek regular dental check-ups
- Assure proper fluoride through drinking water, fluoride products or fluoride supplements
Sealants are used to protect the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth. These surfaces often decay because they contain pits and fissures--tiny groves and depressions—where plaque accumulates. Even if your child brushes and flosses carefully, it is difficult to completely clean these tiny grooves and depressions. Sealants are clear or opaque plastic materials that are painted onto these decay-prone surfaces of the teeth. By forming a thin covering over the pits and fissures, the sealants keep plaque and food out of crevices in the teeth, reducing the risk of decay.
Before Sealant Applied
After Sealant Applied
Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation. Try to choose healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables, peanut butter and cheese. Serve foods containing sugars or starches only at mealtimes. Reserve milk and juice for mealtimes, and instead give your child water throughout the day or at snack time.
Many factors determine how foods affect your child’s teeth. The more often your child snacks on foods containing sugars and starches, the greater the chance for tooth decay. Other major factors include:
Many factors determine how foods affect your child’s teeth. The more often your child snacks on foods containing sugars and starches, the greater the chance for tooth decay. Other major factors include:
- The time the food is in the mouth. Hard candies stay in the mouth for a long time, leading to extended acid attacks on the teeth.
- Consistency of the food. Raisins, cookies, fruit roll-ups, chips, and cereals tend to stick to the teeth and prolong the acid attack.
- The time of day when food is eaten. When eaten just before bedtime, snacks can be particularly destructive. The flow of saliva stops while sleeping and any bits of food still in the mouth will remain until brushing and flossing the next morning.
- What is eaten along with the foods. Research indicates that certain foods, such as cheese, may help counter the effects of the acids produced by the bacteria in plaque.
- Toothache: Clean the area of the affected tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris. If the pain still exists, contact the office. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth. If the face is swollen apply cold compresses and contact the office immediately.
- Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek: Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take your child to the hospital emergency room.
- Chipped or Fractured Tooth: Contact the office 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 the office.
- Knocked Out Permanent Tooth: Find the tooth and holding it by the crown (not the root portion), rinse it gently in cool water. DO NOT scrub or clean it with soap. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to 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 it in a clean container with milk, saliva or water. Get to the dental office immediately. (Call the emergency number if it's after hours.) The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.
- Severe Blow to the Head or Jaw Fracture: Go immediately to the emergency room of your local hospital. A blow to the head can be life threatening.
Absolutely! First, reduce oral injury in sports by wearing mouth guards. Second, always use a car seat for young children. Require seat belts for everyone else in the car. Third, child-proof your home to prevent falls, electrical injuries, and choking on small objects. Fourth, protect your child from unnecessary toothaches with regular dental visits and preventive care.
You might not be surprised anymore to see people with pierced tongues, lips or cheeks, but you might be surprised to know just how dangerous these piercings can be.
There are many risks involved with oral piercings including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, blood poisoning, heart infections, brain abscess, nerve disorders (trigeminal neuralgia), receding gums or scar tissue. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Your tongue could swell large enough to close off your airway!
Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva and injuries to gum tissue. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle.
So follow the advice of the American Dental Association and give your mouth a break – skip the mouth jewelry.
There are many risks involved with oral piercings including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, blood poisoning, heart infections, brain abscess, nerve disorders (trigeminal neuralgia), receding gums or scar tissue. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Your tongue could swell large enough to close off your airway!
Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva and injuries to gum tissue. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle.
So follow the advice of the American Dental Association and give your mouth a break – skip the mouth jewelry.
Tobacco in any form can jeopardize your child’s health and cause incurable damage. Teach your child about the dangers of tobacco.Smokeless tobacco, also called spit, chew or snuff, is often used by teens who believe that it is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. This is an unfortunate misconception. Studies show that spit tobacco may be more addictive than smoking cigarettes and may be more difficult to quit. Teens who use it may be interested to know that one can of snuff per day delivers as much nicotine as 60 cigarettes. In as little as three to four months, smokeless tobacco use can cause periodontal disease and produce pre-cancerous lesions called leukoplakias.
If your child is a tobacco user you should watch for the following that could be early signs of oral cancer:
Help your child avoid tobacco in any form. By doing so, they will avoid bringing cancer-causing chemicals in direct contact with their tongue, gums and cheek.
If your child is a tobacco user you should watch for the following that could be early signs of oral cancer:
- A sore that won’t heal.
- White or red leathery patches on the lips, and on or under the tongue.
- Pain, tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth or lips.
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue; or a change in the way the teeth fit together.
Help your child avoid tobacco in any form. By doing so, they will avoid bringing cancer-causing chemicals in direct contact with their tongue, gums and cheek.