Friday, February 1, 2013

Pediatric Dental Health


February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! We want our youngest patients to have a lifetime of good oral health and encourage you to bring your child in for a visit.  Below are some Frequently Asked Questions about pediatric dental health.
 
When Should Children Have Their First Dental Visit?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) suggests that parents should make an initial “well-baby” appointment approximately six months after the emergence of the first tooth, or no later than the child’s first birthday.
Although this may seem surprisingly early, the incidence of infant and toddler tooth decay has been rising in recent years.  Tooth decay and early cavities can be exceptionally painful if they are not treated  immediately, and can also set the scene for poor oral health in later childhood.

What potential dental problems can babies experience?
A baby is at risk for tooth decay as soon as the first tooth emerges, and especially so if one of the parents is high-risk.  During the first visit, we try to help parents implement a preventative strategy to protect the teeth from harm, and also demonstrate how infant teeth should be brushed and flossed.

In particular, infants who drink breast milk, juice, baby formula, soda, or sweetened water from a baby bottle or sippy cup are at high-risk for early childhood caries (cavities).  To counteract this threat, we discourage parents from filling cups with sugary fluids, dipping pacifiers in honey, and transmitting oral bacteria to the child via shared spoons and/or cleaning pacifiers in their own mouths.
How can I care for my infant’s gums and teeth?

Many parents do not realize that cavity-causing bacteria can be transmitted from the mother or father to the child.  This transmission happens via the sharing of eating utensils and the “cleaning” of pacifiers in the parent’s mouth.  Parents should also adhere to the following guidelines to enhance infant oral health:
•Brush – Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny sliver of ADA approved non-fluoridated toothpaste (for children under two), gently brush the teeth twice each day.  For infants without teeth, wipe the gums with a damp cloth after every feeding.  This reduces oral bacteria and minimizes the risk of early cavities.

•Floss – As soon as two adjacent teeth appear in the infant’s mouth, cavities can form between the teeth.  Ask us about strategies for flossing your child’s teeth.
•Pacifier use – Pacifiers are a soothing tool for infants.  Be sure not to dip pacifiers in honey or any other sweet liquid.  Prolonged pacifier use, as well as thumb-sucking can be detrimental in older toddlers and young children.

•Use drinking glasses – Baby bottles and sippy cups are largely responsible for infant and toddler tooth decay.  Both permit a small amount of liquid to repeatedly enter the mouth.  Consequently, sugary liquid (milk, soda, juice, formula, breast milk or sweetened water) is constantly swilling around in the infant’s mouth, fostering bacterial growth and expediting tooth decay.  Only offer water in sippy cups, and discontinue their use after the infant’s first birthday.
•Visit the dentist – Around the age of one, the infant should visit a dentist for a “well baby” appointment.  The dentist will examine tooth and jaw development, and provide strategies for future oral care.


When will my child get her first tooth?
The eruption of primary teeth (also known as deciduous or baby teeth) follows a similar developmental timeline for most children.  A full set of primary teeth begins to grow beneath the gums during the fourth month of pregnancy. For this reason, a nourishing prenatal diet is of paramount importance to the infant’s teeth, gums, and bones.

Generally, the first primary tooth breaks through the gums between the ages of six months and one year.  By the age of three years old most children have a “full” set of twenty primary teeth. 

My child has a cavity in a baby tooth.  Can’t we just pull it since it will fall out eventually anyway?
Although primary teeth are deciduous, they facilitate speech production, proper jaw development, good chewing habits - and the proper spacing and alignment of adult teeth.  Caring properly for primary teeth helps defend against painful tooth decay, premature tooth loss, malnutrition, and childhood periodontal disease.

In what order do baby teeth erupt?
 

 I’m pregnant.  Should I be seeing a dentist?
Pregnancy is an exciting time. It is also a crucially important time for the unborn child’s oral and overall health.  The “perinatal” period begins approximately 20-28 weeks into the pregnancy, and ends 1-4 weeks after the infant is born.  With so much to do to prepare for the new arrival, a dental checkup is often the last thing on an expectant mother’s mind.

Research shows, however, that there are links between maternal periodontal disease (gum disease) and premature babies, babies with low birth weight, maternal preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes.  It is of paramount importance therefore, for mothers to maintain excellent oral health throughout the entire pregnancy.
Maternal cariogenic (cavity-causing) bacteria is linked with a wide range of adverse outcomes for infants and young children.  For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) advises expectant mothers to get dental checkups and counseling regularly, for the purposes of prevention, intervention, and treatment.

 
We hope you have found this information helpful.  If you are an expectant mother or have young children, we would encourage you to call us if you have additional questions or would like to schedule an appointment (269) 344-8988.   Our website also provides additional information on pediatric health, including questions pertaining to pacifiers and thumb sucking, as well as sedation dentistry for children. 

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