Dental Care Parents' Guide: Questions & Answers
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See a list of parents' most common questions regarding dental care of children, as well as answers to them.
Question: When should my child first see a dentist?
Answer: "First visit by first birthday" sums it up. Your child should visit a pediatric dentist when the first tooth comes in, usually between six and twelve months of age. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child’s smile now and in the future.
Question: Why so early? What dental problems could a baby have?
Answer: The most important reason is to begin 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). Your child risks severe decay from using a bottle during naps or at night or when they nurse continuously from the breast. This severe form of tooth decay in primary, or baby teeth, is caused when juice, formula, milk, breast milk or any liquid that contains certain carbohydrates sits on teeth for a prolonged period.
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.
Question: How can I prevent tooth decay from a bottle or nursing?
Answer: Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle. At-will nighttime breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary (baby) teeth begins to erupt. Drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided. When juice is offered, it should be in a cup.
Question: When should bottle-feeding be stopped?
Answer: Children should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.
Question: Should I worry about thumb and finger sucking?
Answer: Thumb sucking is perfectly normal for infants; most stop by age 2. If your child does not, discourage it after age 4. Prolonged thumb sucking can create crowded, crooked teeth, or bite problems. Your pediatric dentist will be glad to suggest ways to address a prolonged thumb sucking habit.
Question: When should I start cleaning my baby’s teeth?
Answer: The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush and water. Remember that most small children do not have the dexterity to brush their teeth effectively. Unless it is advised by your child’s pediatric dentist, do not use fluoridated toothpaste until age 2-3 (until your child is able to spit well and does not pose a risk of swallowing the toothpaste). Tooth eruption is a process in tooth development in which the teeth enter the mouth and become visible. It is currently believed that the periodontal ligaments play an important role in tooth eruption. Development of teeth begins long before eruption, even in the stage of the embryo in the mother's uterus. Primary (baby) teeth erupt into the mouth from around 6 months until 2 years of age. These teeth are the only ones in the mouth until a person is about 6 years old. At that time, the first permanent tooth erupts and begins a time in which there is a combination of primary and permanent teeth. This stage, known as the mixed stage, lasts until the last primary tooth is lost. Then, the remaining permanent teeth erupt into the mouth.
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