Pediatric Dentistry FAQs
How often should I bring my child for a check up?
The ADA and AAPD recommends that you and your child see a dentist every 6 months. Studies have shown that professional Fluoride treatments every 6 months reduce cavities by 30%. That means that by just showing up your child will get a third less cavities! Studies have also shown that children who receive regular check ups have better oral hygiene at home and are more likely to follow dietary recommendations.
Children are dynamic individuals. They are constantly changing and growing. That means that their teeth and jaws are changing as well and should be monitored and evaluated at regular intervals. Children's diet and food preferences are also constantly changing and a child who previously was not susceptible to cavities may begin to develop cavities. It is always better to treat cavities when they are small instead of risk losing teeth.
What dental problems could my child have?
Some dental problems begin early in life. Early childhood caries also called Baby bottle tooth decay, is a serious problem due to being put to sleep with the bottle or breast and ad lib feeding. Oral habits such as thumbsucking and pacifier use should be checked, as it can affect the growth of the jaws.
Why are baby teeth so important?
Primary teeth are important because they help with proper chewing and eating, help in speech development, and add to an attractive appearance. Healthy baby teeth allow normal development of the jaws and muscles, and save space for the permanent adult teeth and guide them into place. If a baby tooth is lost too soon the teeth can shift and the adult teeth will become impacted in the jaws necessitating surgery and costly orthodontics. Decayed baby teeth can cause pain, abscesses and infections that can spread to and damage the adult permanent teeth. Also your child's general health can be affected, if diseased baby teeth are not treated. Remember some baby teeth are not replaced until age 10-14, so they must last for years.
When should I begin brushing?
When your child is first born you can begin wiping the mouth with a warm wet washcloth after each feeding. Once your child gets their first tooth you can begin brushing after each feeding with a soft bristled brush and warm water, or use a non-fluoridated toothpaste. It is important to begin healthy habits from the start. Brush your child's teeth at least twice a day. Before bedtime is the most important time, since most cavities are made at night.
To help make tooth brushing less of a battle it is a good idea to create a “toothbrushing routine” and stick to it each day. One can't expect a teenager to miraculously begin brushing their teeth regularly if they have never had the habit instilled in them from an early age.
What about Fluoride?
Children should not use fluoridated toothpaste before about age 2. You should make an appointment to discuss switching over to fluoridated toothpaste with your dentist at this time. Young children swallow toothpaste, so we recommend using no more than a pea size amount.
Some dentists and physicians recommend fluoride supplementation either in vitamins or topically in the form of rinses or gels if you live in a non-fluoridated community. It is important to discuss fluoride supplementation with your dentist and doctor, to decide what is best for your child. Only give as much as the directions say to use, because too much fluoride can cause fluorosis of the teeth.
What about preventative care?
Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. At our office we are most concerned with all aspects of preventative care. Caries is an infective disease caused by a bacteria called strep mutans. If a child has a lot of cavities on baby teeth it will spread to an infect the adult teeth. By taking preventative measures such as placing sealants on molars, instituting a fluoride regimen, getting a check up and professional fluoride application every six months, following healthier dietary recommendations, and instilling a better oral hygiene routine at home, your child can be cavity free.
What about sterilization?
Your health and peace of mind are our primary concern: therefore we use state of the art sterilization procedures. After each patient visit, the treatment area is thoroughly disinfected. We ultrasonically clean and heat sterilize all non-disposable instruments. Our staff wears gloves and masks during procedures. Please feel free to ask us for the information on the measures we take to ensure the safety of you and your children, or a tour of the sterilization area.
What causes cavities and how can I prevent them?
Most of the time cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. Limiting sugar such as soda intake and brushing regularly can help.
Cavities are an infectious disease caused by a bacteria called strep mutans. Every time someone eats the bacteria eats too and secrets acid which breaks down the enamel tooth structure. The more sugar you eat the happier the bacteria is, because the more food it has. By brushing and flossing you actually remove the bacteria living in the plaque.
Genetics also comes into play with cavities as well. Some childrens' teeth are just more susceptible to cavities, or they have more destructive strains of the bacteria which causes cavities. These children especially need to follow the formula below.
The formula for no cavities:
More brushing + less sugar = less plaque + bacteria = less cavities
Dietary recommendations to prevent cavities
- Limit sugar intake, candy, chips, cakes, cookies, should be treats not something children eat everyday.
- Children should not drink soda, it has no nutritional value and is loaded not only with sugar but caffeine as well.
- Eat lots of healthy fruits and vegetables.
- Eat good sources of protein.
- Juice intake should be limited to not more than 2- 6oz cups a day. Juice should be cut with water ½ juice, ½ water.
- Children need calcium for healthy teeth and bone development- milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream.
- Drink lots of water.
- Don't let your child run around with a sippy cup of juice all day.
- Don't put your child to sleep with a bottle, breast or sippy cup with anything but water.
- After brushing teeth for bed, only give your child water.
What are sealants?
Sealants have revolutionized preventative care in dentistry. It used to be that we had to wait for a cavity to form and then drill and fill it. Now we can prevent the cavities from ever starting with sealants.
Sealants are a white material that fill in and cover the grooves of the back teeth. Because they are bonded in you don't need to drill the teeth. However, because they are only bonded in and chewing forces are so strong, they must be periodically replaced and maintained. Well-maintained sealants have been shown to reduce cavities in the grooves (the most common site for cavities) by 83%.
