Pediatric Dentistry

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY RECOMMENDS

Children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. It is important that your son or daughter’s newly erupted teeth (which emerge between six and 12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning.

WHEN NEW TEETH ARRIVE

Your child’s primary or baby teeth will begin to appear between the ages of six and 12 months, and continue to erupt until about age three. During this time, your little one’s gums may feel tender and sore.

To help alleviate this discomfort, we recommend that you soothe the gums by rubbing a clean finger or a cool, wet cloth across them. You may also choose to make use of a teething ring. When your youngster has finished teething, you can expect a total of 20 primary teeth.

Your child’s primary teeth are shed at various times throughout childhood. Permanent teeth begin emerging at age six, and continue until age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth (32, including wisdom teeth).

ADOPTING HEALTHY ORAL HYGIENE HABITS

As your son or daughter’s teeth appear, be sure to examine them every two weeks, looking for lines and discoloration that may be caused by decay. Remember that sugary foods and liquids can attack a new tooth, so take care that your child brushes after feeding or eating.

We recommend brushing two times a day for optimal oral hygiene and to avoid the nighttime bottle with milk as they mature. This is the number-one cause of decay in infants.

Brushing can be fun, and your child should brush as soon as the first tooth arrives. When that tooth erupts, parents should brush it with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

For children younger than two, do not use fluoride toothpaste unless advised to do so by our office or another healthcare professional. We suggest reviewing proper tooth brushing procedures with your child.

Flossing is also a part of good oral hygiene habits, and Dr. Gaddy will discuss with you the right time to start flossing. If you notice signs of decay, contact our office immediately.

PREVENTING TOOTH DECAY WITH REGULAR CHECKUPS

Tooth decay is caused by sugars left in your mouth that turn into an acid, which can break down your teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason: many children and adolescents do not practice regular, good oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines combined with regular dental visits help keep tooth decay away.

Your little one should visit our office every six months for regular dental cleanings and checkups. We recommend fluoride treatments twice a year, along with cleanings to keep teeth their strongest.

Tooth sealants are also recommended because they “seal” the deep grooves in your child’s teeth, and prevent decay from forming in these hard-to-reach areas. Sealants last for several years, but will be monitored at your youngster’s regular checkups.