Dental Care for Your Child
Your child’s first teeth will begin coming in between three and sixteen months (usually around six months). The two bottom front teeth will be the first to come in and this will be followed by the four upper teeth in four to eight weeks. Your child will continue to get new teeth until he has all twenty of his primary teeth when he is three years old, with most children getting about four new teeth every four months. In most children teething only causes increased drooling and a desire to chew on hard things, but in some it does cause mild pain and irritability and the gums may become swollen and tender. To help this you can vigorously massage the area for a few minutes or let him chew on a smooth, hard teething ring. Teething should not cause fever, diarrhea, sleeping problems or diaper rashes and most children do not need teething gels or treatment with Tylenol for pain, although you can use them if necessary.
Tooth decay is when the enamel of a tooth is destroyed. It may cause toothaches, lost teeth, malocclusion (poor bite), and costly visits to the dentist. Fortunately, modern dentistry can prevent 80% to 90% of tooth decay.
Even babies can have problems with dental decay when parents do not practice good feeding habits at home. Putting your baby to sleep with a bottle in his or her mouth may be convenient in the short term — but it can harm the baby’s teeth. When the sugars from juice or milk remain on a baby’s teeth for hours, they may eat away at the enamel, creating a condition known as bottle mouth. Pocked, pitted, or discolored front teeth are signs of bottle mouth. Severe cases result in cavities and the need to pull all the front teeth until the permanent ones grow in.
Parents and child care providers should also help young children develop set times for drinking during the day as well because sucking on a bottle throughout the day can be equally damaging to young teeth.
You should begin cleaning your child’s teeth by wiping them with a moist washcloth or a soft child’s toothbrush, but use a pea-size amount of a fluoride toothpaste or a non-fluoride toothpaste (like Baby OraGel) until your child is able to spit it out (too much fluoride can stain their teeth). Also, do not put your child to sleep with a bottle, since the sugar in the milk will pool around their teeth all night and cause cavities.
How can you help your child prevent tooth decay?
Fluoride
Fluoride builds strong, decay-resistant enamel and reduces cavities by 70%. Children 6 months to 16 years old need fluoride. Drinking fluoridated water (containing 0.7 to 1.2 parts fluoride per million) or taking a prescription fluoride supplement is the best protection against tooth decay.
To get enough fluoride from drinking water, a child must drink at least 1 pint of fluoridated water each day. By school age a child preferably drinks 1 quart of fluoridated water per day. Fluoride is safe. Fluoride has been added to water supplies for over 50 years.
Toothbrushing and flossing
The purpose of toothbrushing is to remove plaque from the teeth. Plaque is the invisible scum that forms on the surface of teeth. Within this plaque, mouth bacteria change sugars to acids, which in turn etches the tooth enamel.
Toothbrushing should begin before a child is 1 year old. Help your child brush at least until after the age of 6 years. Most children don’t have the coordination or strength to brush their own teeth adequately before then. If your child is negative about tooth-brushing, have her brush your teeth first before you brush her.
Diet
A healthy diet from a dental standpoint is one that keeps the sugar concentration in the mouth at a low level. The worst foods for your teeth contain sugar and also stick to the teeth.
If your child is a baby, prevent baby-bottle cavities by not letting your infant sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. After the first teeth appear give your baby a bottle of water if your child must have a bottle at night. It is better to put your child to bed after she is finished with the bottle.
Dental sealants
The latest breakthrough in dental research is dental sealing of the pits and fissures of the biting surfaces of the molars. Fluoride does little to prevent decay on these surfaces. A special plastic seal can be applied to the top surfaces of the permanent molars at about age 6. The seal may protect against decay for 10 to 20 years without needing replacement. Ask your child’s dentist about the latest recommendations.
Dentist visits
Dental checkups are generally recommended starting at the age of 3 years, or sooner for dental symptoms or teeth that look abnormal.