Prevention

• Good dental care begins before a baby's first tooth appears. Just because you can't see the teeth doesn't mean they aren't there. Teeth actually begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy. At birth, your baby has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed in the jaw.

  Here's when and how to care for those little choppers:

  • Even before your baby starts teething, run a clean, damp washcloth over the gums to clear away harmful bacteria.
  • Once your baby gets teeth, brush them with an infant toothbrush. Use water and a tiny bit of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice). If you are using baby toothpaste without the fluoride, keep it to the same amount because you still want to minimize any toothpaste that is swallowed.
  • Once your baby's teeth touch, you can begin flossing in between them.
  • Around age 2, your child should learn to spit while brushing. Avoid giving your child water to swish and spit because this might make swallowing toothpaste more likely.
  • Kids ages 3 and up should use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
  • Always supervise kids younger than 6 while brushing, as they are more likely to swallow toothpaste.

  Even babies can develop tooth decay if good feeding habits aren't practiced. Putting a baby to sleep with a bottle might be convenient, but can harm the baby's teeth. When the sugars from juice or milk remain on a baby's teeth for hours, they can eat away at the enamel, creating a condition known as bottle mouth. Pocked, pitted, or discolored front teeth are signs of bottle mouth. Kids with severe cases might develop cavities and need all of their front teeth pulled (permanent teeth will grow in later).

  Brushing

  

  
  

  Brushing is key in maintaining healthy teeth – not only does it remove remnants of food, but dental plaque as well. Dental plaque is comprised of bacteria and metabolic waste products. The bacteria multiply rapidly and form a sticky mass that adhere to the teeth and produce aggressive acid. This acid attacks the enamel of initiates the decaying process.

  
  

  Our hygienists are specially trained to teach children how to brush their teeth effectively. We highly recommend to:

  Brush at least twice a day – after breakfast and before bedtime

  Brush all the teeth, not just the front ones and spend at least 2 or 3 minutes brushing using age appropriate fluoride toothpaste

  Visit our tooth brushing school in order to tailor your brushing techniques to your child’s particular needs

  Dental flossing

  Children teeth can grow in a tightly crowded manner causing an increased risk of tooth decay between adjacent teeth, known as approximal caries.

  
  

  These interproximal spaces are too narrow for the toothbrush and create a trap where bacteria can hide. To prevent the development of approximal caries it is important that you start flossing when your child is 4 years old. Our preventative team is always on hand to assist and guide, and will happily teach parents and children how to use dental floss properly.

  Visiting the Dentist

  

  It is recommended that children see a dentist by their first birthday. At this first visit, your child dentist will explain proper brushing and flossing techniques and do a modified exam while your baby sits on your lap.

  These visits can help find potential problems early and help kids get used to visiting the dentist so they'll have less fear about going as they get older. Consider taking your child to a children dentist who specializes in treating kids. Pediatric dentists are trained to handle the wide range of issues associated with kids' dental health. They also know when to refer you to a different type of specialist, such as an orthodontist to correct an overbite or an oral surgeon for jaw realignment.

  If a child seems to be at risk for cavities or other problems, the dentist may start applying topical fluoride even before all teeth come in. Fluoride hardens the tooth enamel, helping to ward off the most common childhood oral disease — dental cavities (also called dental caries).

  Preventing Cavities

  Cavities happen when bacteria and food left on the teeth after eating are not brushed away. Acid collects on a tooth, softening its enamel until a hole — or cavity — forms.

  Here's how to keep cavities away:

  • Start good oral habits early. Teach kids to brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and to floss regularly.
  • Get enough fluoride Regular use of fluoride toughens the enamel, making it harder for acid to penetrate. Although many towns require tap water to be fluoridated, others don't. If your water supply is not fluoridated or if your family uses purified water, ask your dentist for fluoride supplements. Most toothpastes contain fluoride but toothpaste alone will not fully protect a child's teeth. Be careful, however, since too much fluoride can cause tooth discoloration. Check with your dentist before supplementing.
  • Limit or avoid certain foods. Sugary foods, juices, candy (especially sticky gummy candy, gummy vitamins, or fruit leather or "roll-ups") can erode enamel and cause cavities. If your kids eat these foods, have them rinse their mouth or brush their teeth after eating to wash away the sugar. The same goes for taking sweetened liquid medicines: always have kids rinse or brush afterward.

  As your child's permanent teeth grow in, the child dentist can help prevent decay by applying a thin wash of resin (called a sealant) to the back teeth, where most chewing is done. This protective coating keeps bacteria from settling in the hard-to-reach crevices of the molars. But make sure that kids know that sealants aren't a replacement for good brushing and regular flossing. 

   

  Contact one of our childrens orthodontist to take care of your childs dental care. Our children orthodontist comes with many years of experience and will discuss with you the best possible solutions to maintain your childrens detal hygiene always in good health.