Dental Care

DENTAL CARE :

Dental Care for Your Child

Q. When should my child see a dentist?

"First visit by first birthday " sums it up. Your child should visit a pediatric dentist when the first tooth comes in, usually between 6 and 12 months of age. This visit will establish a dental home for your child. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child's smile now and in the future.

Q. Why so early? What dental problems could a baby have?

The most important reason is to begain a through prevention. Dental problems can begin early. A big concern is Early Childhood Caries (formerly known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries). Once a child's diet includes anything besides breast-milk, erupted teeth are at risk for decay. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily and smile with confidence. Start your child now on a lifetime of good dental habits.

Q. How can I prevent tooth decay from nursing or using a bottle?

At-will breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary (baby) teeth begin to erupt and other sources of nutrition have been introduced. Children should not fall asleep with a bootle containing anything other than water. Drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided. Fruit juice should only be offered in a cup with meals or at snack time.

Q. When should bottle-feeding be stopped?

Children should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age,

Q. Should I worry about thumb and finger sucking?

Thumb sucking is perfectly normal for infants; many stop by age 2. Prolonged thumb sucking can create crooked teeth or bite problems. If the habit continues beyond age 3, a professional evaluation is recommended. Your pediatric dentist will be glad to suggest ways to address a prolonged thumb sucking habit.

Q. When should I start cleaning my baby's teeth?

The sooner the better! Staring at birth, clean tour child's gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. As soon as the teeth begin to appear, start brushing twice daily using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft, age-appropraite sized toothbrush. Use a "smear" of toothpaste to brush the teeth of a child less than 2 years of age. For the 2-5 year old, dispense a "pea-size amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child's toothbrushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively

By the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry - AAPD Publications

Lastest News

Quick Tips for Busy Parents:

"I Don't Wanna Brush!"

AAPD President Dr. William C. Berlocher (2009-2010), shares his insight on those hard-to-brush preschoolers.

"A pediatric dentist's average day in the office includes a number of wncounters with children who are initially not cooperative. Sometimes this uncooperative behavior is a result of a child being anxious in a new and foreign environment. Other times it is simply a child manifesting some recently appreciated control in their lives."

There are:

Tell/Show/Do - A technique that involves explanation of procedures in age-appropriate levels (Tell). demonstration of the procedure in a carefully defined, nonthreatening setting (Show) and then without deviating from the explanation and demonstration, completion of the procedure (Do).

Positive Reinforcement - Positive feedback is used to reward desired behavior and strengthen the recurrence of these behaviors.

Modeling - A technique that involves allowing children to observe activities that are new to them by watching other more experienced children engage in these activities.

"Children who have discovered they have some control in their lives and are resistive to their parent's direction and instrution can be a more challenging issue. A term that I've found to be extremely useful in these situations is "cheerful persistence." First of all, parents need to be positive and keep a smile on their face when working with their child. Parents give many nonverbal cues to their child. If you go into a tooth-brushing session looking like you're going to war, more than likely it will be just that! Secondly, oral hygiene is something that works only if it is undertaken on a regular basis. Therefore, daily brushing is a must. Avoiding tooth brushing because of the potential for a clash between a child and parent dramatically increases the potential for development of dental cavities."

Quick Tips for Busy Parents:

Your Child and Cheese

Did you know recent research shows cheese is one of the healthest snacks for your child's teeth? In addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also does its part to fight cavities. Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, and Monterey Jack all stimulate the body's salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect teeth from acids that weaken them. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque's ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child's teeth.

Quick Tips for Busy Parent's:

Sealants Can Seal the Deal for Healthy Teeth

"Sealant" refers to a clear or shaded plastic material placed in the pits and grooves of children's teeth to prevent decay. The pediatric dentist applies this invisible protector by drying and conditioning the teeth, painting on the sealant and then allowing it to harden.

The AAPD recommends sealants as an effective method for cavity prevention, especially for those children with history of tooth decay. In addition, sealants are one of the most cost-effective means of preventing cavities - they cost less than half of what one filling cost!

For futher information on dental sealants, please visit:

http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/sealants.asp

Flossing:

Once ant two of your child's teeth touch each other, it's time to start flossing. Flossing helps prevent cavities by removing plaque and food particles caught between teeth. It should be an important part of your child's dental routine.

Your child should be able to floss his or her own teeth by the time he or she is 9 years old. To floss younger children's teeth, place them in your lap facing you. The technique is the same, no matter who is doing it. To floss your child's teeth:

1. Take about 18 inches of dental floss and wrap one end around each of your middle fingers.

2. Using your thumbs and index fingers as guides, gently slide the floss between two teeth, using a saw-like motion.

3. Once at the gum line, pull both ends of the floss in the same direction to form a C shape against one tooth. Pull the floss tightly and move it up and down against one tooth.

4. Pull the floss against the other tooth and repeat the motion.

5. Repeat this for all of the teeth. Be sure to floss both sides of the teeth farthest back in the mouth.

Remember, good oral hygiene is an important part of your child's overall health. Your child can get off to a good start by: