Caring for your babies new teeth

Baby Teeth Hygiene

They are JUST baby teeth right? WRONG! The care and cleaning of your baby's teeth is important for long-term dental health. Even though the first set of teeth will fall out, tooth decay can hasten this process and leave spaces before the permanent teeth are ready to come in if the primary tooth is extracted. The remaining primary teeth may then crowd together to attempt to fill in the space, which may cause the permanent teeth to come in crooked and out of place. Or, the permanent teeth may not erupt at all due to lack of space. 

Daily dental care should begin even before your baby's first tooth pokes through. Wipe your baby's gums daily with a clean, damp washcloth, or brush them gently with a soft, infant-sized toothbrush and water (no toothpaste!). As soon as the first tooth appears, brush it!!

Toothpaste is OK to use. Only put a smear layer (very very small amount) of toothpaste on the tooth brush for under age 2 and about a pea size for ages about 2. Choose one with fluoride. You are only putting a small amount on the brush anyways. Don't let your child swallow the toothpaste or eat it out of the tube because an overdose of fluoride can be harmful to kids but the little amount on their toothbrush won't harm them. 

By the time all your baby's teeth are in, try to brush them at least twice a day and especially after meals. It's also important to get kids used to flossing early on. A good time to start flossing is when two teeth start to touch. Normally this is the primary molars that begin to touch first. You can also get toddlers interested in the routine by letting them watch and imitate you as you brush and floss. Make brushing time fun. Sing a song! 

Another important tip for preventing tooth decay: Don't let your baby fall asleep with a bottle. The milk or juice will sit in the baby's mouth and cause tooth decay from the sugar that's in these drinks. 

Tips: 

1. See a dentist at age 1

2. Brush twice daily for your child until age 8

3. Limit candy to special occasions

4. NO gummy vitamins, change to a chewable

5. Juice with a meal only and at the most one cup a day

6. Floss ASAP especially those teeth in the back

7. Encourage healthy eating habits

8. Use fluoride toothpaste

9. Use mouth rinse, such as ACT, with the ingredient fluoride in it right before bed. Swish it around, spit and go right to bed. Do not rinse with water after use. If your child doesn't spit yet, put a little on the toothbrush or a q-tip and apply to teeth that way. 

Key word: Prevention

This just in...cavities are preventable!! I can't even begin to tell you how many children I see in one day that have cavities, even as early as 1 years old! It's rather frustrating as a hygienist to see so many people getting cavities, especially young children! My job not only is to "clean teeth" and take x-rays, the biggest part of my job is educating my patients and their parents. It's not okay that all these children have mouths full of cavities. It shouldn't be the norm. It shouldn't be brushed off that "they only have one cavity" or it shouldn't be a surprise to parents "they don't have more cavities." Cavities are a bigger deal than that and they are preventable! (I think I may of mentioned that and will say it at least one more time!)) 

I'm not talking about seeing 1 teeny, itty bitty cavity here and there. It's not uncommon to see several cavities in the mouths of these children. Some needing white fillings, some needing silver caps and some cavities so large the tooth needs to be extracted. 

 

Why is this happening?

People aren't taking care of their teeth like they should be: Not brushing long enough or at all, not flossing, not using rinses, poor diet, not seeing their Dentist regularly. No one enjoys getting a cavity and having to get it filled. No one wants to see their Dental Hygienist and Dentist more than twice a year, but many are. 

What is a cavity?

A cavity is a hole in your tooth. The hole can grow bigger and deeper over time. Cavities are also called dental caries and if you have a cavity, it's important to get it fixed by the Dentist ASAP. 

          (Curtesy of kidshealth.org) 

How does a cavity form? PLAQUE. That's that sticky, soft stuff on your teeth that should be brushed off. Plaque is made up mostly of the germs and foods that cause tooth cavities. The bacteria in your mouth make acids and when plaque sticks to your teeth, the acids can eat away at your tooth. If a cavity does not get filled when small, the cavity can get bigger and grow through the layers of the teeth and reach the pulp of the tooth. This is when an extraction or root canal is needed. 

Now I know things happen but did I mention cavities are preventable? :) 

 

What happens at your child's first Dental visit

Did you know? Your child's first visit to the dentist should be at 1 year of age. I didn't either until I became a dental hygienist!

  Why visit the Dentist at age 1?

The purpose of the age 1 dental visit is to learn about your child's oral health and how to best care for your child's teeth before any problems occur. Many dental problems can be prevented or more easily treated in the early stages. At this first visit, you will get your questions answered and start to build a relationship with the dentist and dental hygienist. Most of your child's first visit is about education. It is important too for your child to understand why they come to the dentist office, who they see there and what we do! 

What to expect:

Most likely your child will not be happy at their first dental appointment and that is okay! That's also a reason to bring them so early so they start to trust us at an early age. You can expect the dental hygienist or dentist to review your child's health history with you. Anything that you know about your child's health is important for us to know. We will respond and listen to any questions or concerns that you have. We will talk with you about your child's overall health and how they are developing orally. We will let you know how many teeth they have, how many more teeth to erupt and how their gums and tissue look. We will also question if their are an oral habits: sucking thumb, fingers or using a pacifier. We will also want to know if a bottle is used and what you are putting in it. We will also discuss how to properly take care of your child's teeth at home and factors that affect the risk of cavities, such as diet. Your child's bite will also be looked at to see how their teeth come together. Follow-up appointments will be made the same day as well. We suggest your child comes to the dentist for cleanings every 6 months. If your child is at a high risk for cavities or is already showing signs of cavities they may come every 3 months. 

What if your child won't sit in the dental chair?

Most children at their first dental visit do not sit in the chair by themselves. We will ask you to have your child sit on your lap. Most of the time we will do what we call a lap exam. You will be asked to turn towards the dentist or dental hygienist and sit knee to knee with them. Your child will then face you and wrap their legs around your waist. Your child will then lay back and their head will be in our laps and you will be asked to hold your child's hands so that they do not grab at us and no one gets hurt. If your child cries, that is okay! We can actually see in their mouth better. We will quickly brush your child's teeth and do an exam to check for cavities. At this time we are also looking to see how many teeth they have and how their tissue looks. The dentist or dental hygienist may also apply a fluoride treatment to your child's teeth. 

Choose the right "dental home" for your child. A good dental home will:

*Be child and parent friendly

*knowledgable about young children's oral health, growth and development

*Responsive to you

*Gentle and kind toward your child and focused on your child's specific needs

*gives advice on how to care for your child's mouth and teeth and willing to show you how to do it

*Give specific advice about regular follow-up care

*Tell you about what will happen next in your child's oral development

Enjoy your child's first dental visit!!

10 Teeth Facts:

• Humans have two sets of teeth during their lifetime, while sharks have around 40 sets of teeth.
• The first set (baby teeth or primary teeth) features 20 teeth.
• The second set (adult teeth or permanent teeth) features 32 teeth.
• Baby teeth are usually replaced by adult teeth between the ages of 6 and 12.
• Teeth are covered in a hard substance called enamel.
• Humans have a variety of teeth including molars, premolars, canines and incisors: molars help grind teeth, canines help hold and tear food apart, incisors help bite pieces of food.
• Many diseases are linked to your oral health, including heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes.
• One third of your tooth is underneath your gums.
• Not everyone loses all of their baby teeth.
• Some babies can be born with teeth.