Children dentistry / Pediatric dentist

I recommend that you bring your baby to see me by its first birthday; this is generally when the first tooth comes in. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child's smile now and in the future.

Dental problems can begin early - even in infancy - to spot early conditions such as bottle tooth decay, teething irritations, gum disease, and prolonged thumb-sucking. Yes, decay can set in from using a bottle during naps or at night or when your baby nurses continuously from the breast. Children with healthy teeth chew food easier and learn to speak more clearly.

Encouraging your child to drink from a cup as she approaches her first birthday can stave off baby bottle tooth decay. You should avoid allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle; nighttime breast-feeding should be avoided after the first baby tooth begins to erupt. Drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided. When juice is offered, it should be in a cup.

Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by exposing your child's teeth to liquids containing sugars. Culprits include milk, formula, fruit juice, sodas, and other sweet drinks. The sugars in these liquids pool around your baby's teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria that live in plaque. Pacifiers dipped in honey, sugar or syrup are just invitations to tooth decay in your baby.

Children should be weaned from the bottle as soon as they can drink from a cup, but the bottle should not be taken away too soon, since the sucking motion aids in the development of facial muscles, as well as the tongue.

Brushing

• Start cleaning your baby's teeth at birth, using a soft infant toothbrush and water. Also, avoid using fluoridated toothpaste on your child until he reaches the age of two.
• As soon as the first teeth come in, begin brushing them with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste. Encourage your child to spit out - not swallow - excess toothpaste after brushing.

Fluoride

• I can help you to evaluate the fluoride level of your child's primary source of drinking water. If your child is not getting enough fluoride, I may be able to prescribe fluoride supplements.

Diet

• Make sure your child has a balanced diet, including one serving each of fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat fish and eggs. And limit sugars and starches to help protect your child's teeth from decay.

Teething

• When babies are teething, usually between the ages of four months and two and a half years, they often have sore and tender gums. The pain usually can be soothed by gently rubbing the baby's gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon or wet gauze. A clean teething ring for the baby to chew on also may be helpful.

Pacifiers & thumb-sucking

• In general, I would discourage thumb sucking after the age of four because prolonged thumb sucking can cause teeth to become crowded and crooked, and could lead to bite problems. In some cases, the upper front teeth may tip toward the lip or not come in properly.
• From six months to age three, your child may have sore gums when her teeth erupt. Many parents use a clean teething ring, a cool spoon, or a cold wet washcloth. You also can rub the baby's gums with a clean finger.
• A mouth appliance may be effective on children if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers when the permanent teeth arrive.

Toothaches

• If your child has a toothache, rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Acetaminophen is effective for any pain; avoid placing aspirin on the teeth or gums.

Injuries

• Mouth guards are soft plastic devices that fit over the front of your child's mouth, protecting his teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sports-related injuries. A well-fitting mouth guard can protect your child from injuries to the teeth, face, and even some severe injuries to the head.
• If your child loses a tooth from an injury, remain calm. If you can locate the tooth, hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to reinsert it in the socket after rinsing it in water. Do not scrub the root, as there are cells vital to the tooth. If reinserting the tooth is not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child and the glass immediately to the dentist.

Sealants

• Technology today has produced sealants, which work by filling in the crevices on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years.