Your Child’s First Dental Visit According to the American
Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), your child should visit the
dentist by his/her 1st birthday. You can make the first
visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Your child should be
informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff
will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less
to-do concerning the visit, the better. It is best if you refrain from
using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear,
such as needle, pull, drill or hurt. Pediatric dental offices make
a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are
pleasant and non-frightening to the child.
Why Are The Primary Teeth So
Important? 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 4 teeth last until 6-7 years
of age, the back teeth (cuspids and molars) aren’t replaced until
age 10-13.
Dental X-Rays Radiographs (X-Rays) are a vital and
necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. Without
them, certain dental conditions can and will be missed. X-Ray’s detect much more than
cavities. For example, X-Rays may be needed to survey erupting
teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate the results of an injury,
or plan orthodontic treatment. X-Rays allow dentists to diagnose
and treat health conditions that cannot be detected during a
clinical examination. If dental problems are found and treated
early, dental care is more comfortable for your child and more
affordable for you. The American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry recommends X-rays and examinations every six months for
children with a high risk of tooth decay. On average, most
pediatric dentists request radiographs approximately once a year.
Approximately every 3 years it is a good idea to obtain a complete
set of radiographs, either a panoramic and bitewings or periapicals
and bitewings. Pediatric dentists are particularly
careful to minimize the exposure of their patients to radiation.
With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a
dental X-ray examination is extremely small. The risk is
negligible. In fact, the dental X-rays represent a far smaller risk
than an undetected and untreated dental problem. Lead body aprons
and shields will protect your child. Today’s equipment filters out
unnecessary X-rays and restricts the X-ray beam to the area of
interest. High-speed film and proper shielding assure that your
child receives a minimal amount of radiation exposure.
Care of Your Child’s
Teeth Begin daily brushing as soon
as the child’s first tooth erupts. A pea size amount of fluoride
toothpaste can be used after the child is old enough not to swallow
it. By age 4 or 5, children should be able to brush their own teeth
twice a day with supervision until about age seven to make sure
they are doing a thorough job. However, each child is different.
Your dentist can help you determine whether the child has the skill
level to brush properly. 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 the child’s teeth
until he or she can do it alone. Use about 18 inches of floss,
winding most of it around the middle fingers of both hands. Hold
the floss lightly between the thumbs and forefingers. Use a gentle,
back-and-forth motion to guide the floss between the teeth. Curve
the floss into a C-shape and slide it into the space between the
gum and tooth until you feel resistance. Gently scrape the floss
against the side of the tooth. Repeat this procedure on each tooth.
Don’t forget the backs of the last four teeth.
Good Diet = Healthy
Teeth Healthy eating habits lead to
healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and the
soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. Children
should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most
snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation. The more
frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance for tooth decay.
How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example,
hard candy and breath mints stay in the mouth a long time, which
cause longer acid attacks on tooth enamel. If your child must
snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt,
and low-fat cheese which are healthier and better for children’s
teeth.
How Do I Prevent Cavities? Good oral hygiene
removes bacteria and the left over food particles that combine to
create cavities. For infants, use a wet gauze or clean washcloth to
wipe the plaque from teeth and gums. Avoid putting your child to
bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water. See "Baby Bottle Tooth
Decay" for more information. For older children,
brush their teeth at least twice a day. Also, watch the
number of snacks containing sugar that you give your
children. The American Academy
of Pediatric Dentistry recommends six month visits to the pediatric
dentist beginning at your child’s first birthday. Routine visits
will start your child on a lifetime of good dental
health. Your pediatric
dentist may also recommend protective sealants or home fluoride
treatments for your child. Sealants can be applied to your child’s
molars to prevent decay on hard to clean surfaces. A sealant is a clear or shaded
plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves)
of the back teeth (premolars and molars), where four out of five
cavities in children are found. This sealant acts as a barrier to
food, plaque and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the
teeth.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (Early
Childhood Caries) One serious form of decay
among young children is baby bottle tooth decay. This condition is
caused by frequent and long exposures of an infant’s teeth to
liquids that contain sugar. Among these liquids are milk (including
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. Sweet liquid pools around the child’s teeth
giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack
tooth enamel. If you must give the baby a bottle as a comforter at
bedtime, it should contain only water. If your child won't
fall asleep without the bottle and its usual beverage, gradually
dilute the bottle's contents with water over a period of two to
three weeks. After each feeding, wipe the
baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove
plaque. The easiest way to do this is to sit down, place the
child’s head in your lap or lay the child on a dressing table or
the floor. Whatever position you use, be sure you can see into the
child’s mouth easily.
When Will My Baby Start
Getting Teeth? Teething, the process
of baby (primary) teeth coming through the gums into the mouth, is
variable among individual babies. Some babies get their teeth early
and some get them late. In general the first baby teeth are usually
the lower front (anterior) teeth and usually begin erupting between
the age of 6-8 months. See "Eruption of Your
Child’s Teeth" for more details. Eruption Of Your Child’s
Teeth 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 pace and order of their
eruption varies. Permanent teeth begin
appearing 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 
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