Teething
Normally, the first baby tooth erupts between ages of 6 to 12 months. During teething, your child's gums can be sore and tender. Gently rubbing sore gums with a clean finger, the back of a cold spoon or a cold, wet cloth may help soothe your child. Some parents find that teething rings work well, but be sure to avoid teething biscuits—they often contain the sugars that cause cavities.
While your child is using bottles or sippy-cups, you should monitor the teeth for signs of 'Baby-Bottle Tooth Decay' or 'Early Childhood Caries'. Examine your child's upper front teeth on both sides every couple of weeks for chalky white spots or lines. A bottle containing anything other than water and left in an infant's mouth while sleeping can cause decay and these chalky white spots are usually the first signs of a cavity. These cavities happen because sugar in the liquid mixes with bacteria in dental plaque, forming acids that attack the tooth enamel. Each time a child drinks liquids containing sugar, acids attack the teeth for about 20 minutes. When awake, saliva carries away the liquid. During sleep, the saliva flow significantly decreases and sugary liquids pool around the child's teeth for long periods, covering the teeth in acids.
Baby Teeth
Your child's primary, or "baby," teeth play a crucial role in their dental development. Without them, your child may have difficulty chewing his or her food or may be challenged when trying to speaking clearly. Primary teeth are important to development of the jaws and for guiding the permanent (secondary) teeth into place when they begin replace the primary teeth around age 6.
Since primary teeth guide the permanent teeth into place, children who prematurely lose primary molars (back teeth) may require a space maintainer, a device used to hold the natural space open. Without a space maintainer, the teeth can tilt toward the empty space and cause permanent teeth to become crowded. The way your child cares for his or her primary teeth plays is a strong indicator of how likely the permanent teeth will be to get cavities.
Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Your child's first dental visit should be scheduled around when the first tooth erupts. The most important part of the visit the conversation you will have with us about the prevention of cavities. Diet, oral hygiene, and fluoride are the 3 important topics we will discuss and we will explain how if you follow some simple rules, you can ensure your child remains cavity free. Another important part of the first visit is getting to know and becoming comfortable with us. Frequent, easy, early visits build trust and help put your child at ease during future dental visits should they ever need treatment. Usually the examination of your infant or young child is very quick and performed your lap to make your child feel comfortable.
Why Primary Teeth Are Important
Primary teeth are important for several reasons. Foremost, strong teeth allow children to eat and maintain good nutrition. Healthy teeth facilitate word pronunciation and a positive self-image. Primary teeth also guide eruption of the permanent teeth.
Good Diet and Healthy Teeth
The teeth, bones and soft tissue of the mouth require a healthy, well-balanced diet. A variety of foods from the five food groups helps minimize (and avoid) cavities and other dental problems. Many snacks marketed towards children are loaded with the simple sugars that cause cavities. Children who snack on proteins, dairy, whole grains, vegetables, and whole fruits usually have many fewer cavities compared to children who snack on crackers, cookies, and cereals that are high in simple carbohydrates. Additionally, the drinks that children prefer can have a strong impact on their dental health. Children are more likely to remain cavity free if they prefer plain milk and water to the more sugary drinks like juices, sodas, sports drinks, sweet teas, or flavored milks.
Infant Tooth Eruption
Your child's primary teeth actually started forming before birth. As early as 4 months of age, the primary erupt — the lower central incisors are usually first, followed by the upper central incisors. The remainder of the 20 primary teeth typically erupt by age 3, but the place and order can vary.
Permanent teeth begin eruption around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until around age 21. Adults have 32 permanent teeth, including the third molars (wisdom teeth).
Preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Tooth decay in infants can be minimized by not allowing sleeping infants to breast or bottle-feed, without wiping their teeth afterwards. If wiping your infant's teeth when they are asleep wakes them up, you can instead offer them a water-filled bottle or a pacifier. Our office is dedicated to preventing baby bottle tooth decay, which is why we encourage early dental visits. Let us know if you notice any signs of decay or anything unusual in your child's mouth.