Infants & Children

From the moment your child’s teeth appear, it is extremely important you take good care of them!

When do baby teeth start coming in?
Are baby teeth as important as permanent teeth?
When should I begin brushing my child’s teeth?
Is it necessary to help my child brush his or her teeth?
How can I clean between my child’s teeth?
When should my child come to the dentist?
What is baby bottle tooth decay?
What causes baby bottle tooth decay?
Is fluoride important?
Are sealants important?

1. When do baby teeth start coming in?

The 4 front teeth usually erupt first, beginning as early as 6 months after birth. Most children have all their baby teeth by their 3rd birthday.

2. Are baby teeth as important as permanent teeth?

Primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, are just as important as permanent adult teeth. Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak, and have a good-looking smile. Baby teeth also keep a space in the jaw for the adult teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early, the teeth beside it may drift into the empty space. When it's time for the adult teeth to come in, there may not be enough room. This can make the teeth crooked or crowded, and braces will be a must.

3. When should I begin brushing my child’s teeth?

Begin brushing your child’s teeth twice a day with a little water as soon as the first tooth appears. At your local drugstore you should be able to buy a small toothbrush especially made for young children – we can also provide you with one. If you use toothpaste to brush your child’s teeth, only use a pea-sized amount since children have a tendency to suck on the toothbrush and swallow the toothpaste. Swallowing too much fluoride can give your child an upset stomach. Ideally you can teach your child to spit out the remaining toothpaste and rinse with water after brushing.

Innumerable studies and research have concluded on the importance of starting children early in their lives with good dental hygiene and oral care. According to research, the most common chronic childhood disease in America is tooth decay, affecting 50 percent of first-graders and 80 percent of 17-year-olds. Early treatment prevents problems affecting a child’s health, well-being, self-image and overall achievement.

The National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research estimates that children will miss 52 million hours of school each year due to oral health problems and about 12.5 million days of restricted activity every year from dental symptoms. Because there is such a significant loss in their academic performance, the Surgeon General has made children’s oral health a priority.

4. Is it necessary to help my child brush their teeth?

Even when your child can brush their own teeth, you should always monitor and help with the brushing so as to instill the importance of keeping their teeth clean. Even when your child is 7 or 8years old you should still check that they are brushing well.

5. How can I clean between my child’s teeth?

You should use an interdental cleaner to clean between your child’s teeth as soon as any 2 teeth are touching – we can provide you with one. Cleaning between teeth is important since it removes plaque where a toothbrush can not reach.

6. When should my child come to the dentist?

You should first bring your child to the dentist when they are about 3 years old. We love treating children and promise to make the visit stress-free and fun for both you and your child. Before their first visit, bring your child to our office when you have your teeth cleaned so as to show them how enjoyable visiting the dentist is. We will even let them pick a prize from the toy chest. Besides checking for tooth decay and discussing oral habits such as thumb sucking, we will show your child how to properly brush their teeth so the cavity bugs won’t get them!

7. What is baby bottle tooth decay?

Decay in infants and children is called baby bottle tooth decay. It can destroy the teeth and most often occurs in the upper front teeth. But other teeth may also be affected.

8. What causes baby bottle tooth decay?

Decay occurs when sweetened liquids are given and are left clinging to an infant's teeth for long periods. Many sweet liquids cause problems, including milk, formula, and fruit juice. Bacteria in the mouth use these sugars as food. They then produce acids that attack the teeth. Each time your child drinks these liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer. After many attacks, the teeth can decay.

It’s not just what you put in your child's bottle that causes decay, but how often and how long a time. Giving your child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day isn't a good idea. Allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle with anything but water during naps or at night will harm the child's teeth.

9. Is fluoride important?

It is important that your child receives fluoride not only from toothpaste, but also from your water supply. Ingested fluoride helps make your teeth, when they are forming, strong and resistant to cavities. Make sure that the water that serves your home is fluoridated; if not, discussing supplement options with your dentist or hygienist.

10. Are sealants important?

Placing dental sealants on your child’s 6-year and 12-year molars is very important. The grooves and depressions that form the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are extremely difficult (if not impossible) to clean of bacteria and food. As the bacteria reacts with the food, acids form and break down the tooth enamel, causing cavities. Recent studies indicate that 88% of total cavities in American school children are caused this way.

Tooth sealants protect these susceptible areas by sealing the grooves and depressions, preventing bacteria and food particles from residing in these areas. Sealant material is a resin typically applied to the back teeth, molars and premolars and areas prone to cavities. It lasts for several years but needs to be checked during regular appointments.