Why Regular Dental Visits Are Important

Visiting the dentist regularly has many benefits, such as:

Promoting Good Oral Health

During dental visits, oral health providers ask questions to learn about the pregnant woman’s and parents’ oral health practices. For example, they may ask if the pregnant woman or child drinks fluoridated tap water or snacks frequently or if parents give the child a bottle filled with something other than water at bedtime (See Where We Stand: Fruit Juice). This information can help oral health providers deliver care and provide education to make it less likely that the woman or child will have problems later.

Teaching Children to Value Good Oral Health

Early dental visits teach a child that oral health is important. A child who is taken for dental visits early in life is more likely to have a good attitude about oral health providers and dental visits. Pregnant women who get oral health care are also more likely to take their child to get care.

Finding Oral Health Problems Early

One goal of dental visits is finding problems early. Tooth decay can be stopped or managed if it is caught early. Treating problems early keeps oral diseases from getting worse and costs less than treatment would later. Treating disease early is also important because oral disease can be transmitted from mother to baby through saliva.

How to Find a Pediatric Dentist

To find a dentist to care for your child visit the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry web site or insurekidsnow.gov.

Additional Information:

• First Steps to a Healthy Smile
• Preventing Tooth Decay in Children
• What is a Pediatric Dentist

Last Updated

2/10/2016

Source

Brush Up on Oral Health Newsletter (Copyright © 2013 The National Center on Health)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

When Children Begin to Lose their Baby Teeth

When will my child start losing his baby teeth? How can I be sure his adult teeth stay healthy?

Erupting permanent teeth cause the roots of baby teeth to be reabsorbed so that by the time they are loose there is little holding them in place besides a small amount of tissue. Most children lose their baby teeth in this order:

• Baby teeth ordinarily are shed first at about age 6 when the incisors, the middle teeth in front, become loose.
• Molars, in the back, are usually shed between ages 10 and 12, and are replaced with permanent teeth by about age 13.

Children usually wiggle their teeth loose with their tongues or fingers, eager to hide them under their pillow for the "tooth fairy." If your child wants you to pull out the already loose tooth, grasp it firmly with a piece of tissue or gauze and remove it with a quick twist. Occasionally, if a primary tooth is not loosening sufficiently on its own, your child's dentist may suggest extracting it.

If your child loses his baby teeth by decay or accident too early, his permanent teeth can erupt prematurely and come in crooked because of limited space. According to orthodontists, 30 percent of their cases have their origins in the premature loss of baby teeth.

Brushing and flossing

Your child may need some help brushing until he is between ages 7 and 10. Even if his intentions are good, he may not have the dexterity to clean his teeth well. Ideally, the teeth should be brushed within five minutes to 10 minutes after eating. Also, for long-term dental health, your child needs to care for his gums as well; he should be taught to floss regularly, preferably once a day, in order to help prevent gum (or periodontal) disease in adulthood.

A tartar-control toothpaste can help keep plaque from adhering to your child's teeth. Also, fluoride in the toothpaste can strengthen the exposed outer enamel of the youngster's teeth and help prevent cavities. Fluoride also has been added to the water supply in many cities. If your own tap water has less than the recommended levels of this nutrient, your pediatrician may suggest that you add fluoride to your child's diet beginning at age 6 months, often as part of a vitamin supplement. Fluoride treatment should continue until age 16. Ask your doctor or dentist for guidance.

Dental checkups

Make sure your youngster has dental checkups twice a year for cleaning, as well as for X-rays as recommended by your dentist. Parents may choose to utilize a pedodontist, a dentist with special interest and expertise in children's dentistry. Regular preventive appointments will significantly decrease your child's chances of ever having to undergo major dental treatment. Also, contact your dentist whenever your child complains of a toothache. This pain could be a sign of a decayed tooth. Until the dentist can see your child, treat the pain with acetaminophen by mouth.

Preventing cavities

Your dentist may also suggest placing sealants on your child's molars. These thin plastic coatings prevent plaque from accumulating and becoming trapped in the pits and fissures of the teeth. They are appropriate for all rear teeth that have grooves in them, and because they are extremely successful in preventing cavities, they are cost-effective too. Sealants may need to be reapplied during adolescence. With a combination of sealants and fluoride treatment, the incidence of cavities can be reduced by 90 percent.

Diet can also play a role in healthy teeth. In particular, minimize your child's contact with high-sugar and sticky sweets and other carbohydrates. Cut back on snacking on sweets between meals, when these foods are more likely to linger in the mouth without brushing.

Last Updated

11/21/2015

Source

Caring for Your School-Age Child: Ages 5 to 12 (Copyright © 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Toothbrushing Tips for Young Children

Each child has different skills and needs that can guide parents in helping him or her brush.

Tips to Help Young Children Practice Brushing & Make It A Good Experience:

• Choosing a toothbrush. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush designed for brushing an infant’s or child’s teeth.
• Holding a toothbrush. If the child has trouble holding a toothbrush, try making the handle thicker by putting it inside a tennis ball. The toothbrush handle can also be strapped to the child’s hand with a wide rubber band, a hair band, or Velcro. Toothbrushes with thick handles can also be found in retail and discount stores.
• Teaching the child how to brush. Break the process into small steps that the child can understand and practice. Ask a dentist, dental hygienist, occupational therapist, or early childhood specialist for help, if needed. Another way is to place a hand over the child’s hand to guide the toothbrush as the child brushes. 
• Using toothpaste with fluoride. Use toothpaste with fluoride that the child likes and that feels good in his or her mouth. An adult should always place toothpaste on the toothbrush. 
• For children under age 3: Use a small smear of flouride toothpaste (or an amount about the size of a grain of rice). 
• For children ages 3–6: Use a pea-size amount of flouride toothpaste. 
• If a child cannot spit: Have the child tilt his or her mouth down so that the toothpaste can dribble out into the sink, a cup, or a washcloth. Since the fluoride in toothpaste is clearly meant to be swishes but not swallowed, make sure to help or watch the child while brushing. When she is old enough, tell her to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
• Positioning the child. There are many ways a child can be positioned to make the child feel comfortable and allow an adult to brush his or her teeth. 
• Keeping the child engaged in brushing. Use a timer, a short song, or counting as a game to encourage brushing for 2 minutes.

Additional Information:

• Let the Brushing Games Begin
• First Steps to a Healthy Smile
• Establishing Good Toothbrushing Habits (Audio)

Last Updated

11/21/2015

Source

Adapted from Brush Up on Oral Health Newsletter (Copyright © 2013 The National Center on Health)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.