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Commonly
Asked Questions
About Children's Dental Health
Q:
At what age should a child have their first
dental examination?
A: The
American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry recommends that all children have their first dental examination
by one year of age or six months within the eruption of their first tooth.
We call our first birthday examination our Well-Baby Dental Examination.
Q: At what
age should a child be weaned from bottle or breast-feeding?
A: We recommend that all children be
weaned by one-year of age or six months within the eruption of their first
tooth. Continuing to bottle or breast-feed beyond this age makes a child
many more times likely to develop tooth decay, specifically a type of
tooth decay known as nursing cavities.
Q: At what
age should a child stop using a pacifier?
A: We recommend that all children stop
using a pacifier by two years of age. Using the pacifier longer can cause
permanent changes in tooth and jaw bone position leading to
"buck" front teeth.
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Q: What are some things the dentist can do to
help prevent dental decay?
A: While brushing and flossing remain
the cornerstone of preventing dental disease, there are several things the
dentist can do for their patients to prevent dental disease. Fluoride is
the main preventive agent against tooth decay. The dentist uses this in
in-office fluoride treatments and in prescription fluoride gels to help
prevent tooth decay. Sealants also are utilized by the dentist to prevent
decay.
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Q: Why do you
need to fix cavities on baby teeth since they will fall out anyway?
A: Dental decay on baby teeth needs to
be treated just as much as dental decay on permanent teeth. Baby teeth
(primary teeth) have nerves and can hurt and abscess in the same way that
permanent teeth can. If abscesses occur, this can lead to defects in the
permanent teeth and even, in some cases, life-threatening infections.
Untreated cavities in baby teeth keeps high numbers of cavity- causing
bacteria in a child's mouth which can lead to cavities in permanent teeth.
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Q: What are
sealants?
A: Sealants are a plastic coating the
dentist bonds in the grooves of the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
About 60% of all decay begins in these grooves. Sealants can be placed on
baby or permanent teeth.
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Even the smallest toothbrush bristle
can not reach the bottom of the
grooves in the
back teeth. |
The enamel is
prepared for bonding with an etching gel. |
The sealant is flowed into the grooves as a semi-liquid and cured to a
solid with a special light. |
The sealant will now protect the grooves in the back teeth from cavities
and will last for an average of 9 to 10 years. |
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Q: What causes
teeth to decay?
A: At least four things are needed to
have dental decay: a tooth, decay-causing bacteria, fermentable
carbohydrates, and time. With one of any of the preceding items missing,
dental decay can not occur. Any time a fermentable carbohydrate is
consumed, your teeth, unless brushed clean, endure a 20 to 30 minute acid
attack by the acid produced by bacteria in plaque.
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Q: Do children need to floss their teeth?
A: Yes, children need to have their
teeth flossed just like adults need to floss their teeth. Flossing does
not need to begin until the gaps between the teeth have closed. Once the
gaps between the teeth have closed the child's parent needs to floss
between the teeth once per day. Flossing is the only way to clean between
the teeth.
Q: What dental products do you recommend for use?
A: We recommend all dental
home care products with the American Dental Association seal on them. This
seal means the product has been tested and proven scientifically to do as
the product's company claims.
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 STOP
Foods
Candy, Marshmallow, Jell-O, Sugar Cereals, Jelly,
Pie, Cookies, Jam, Doughnuts, Pudding, Orange Drink,
Chocolate, Soft Drinks, Cake, Popsicles, Kool-Aid,
Ice Cream
YIELD
Foods
Pretzels, Saltine Crackers, Ritz,
Wheaties, Special K, Cheerios,
Bread Sticks, Doritos, Corn Chips, Potato Chips,
Nachos, Bananas, Tea, Coffee
GO
Foods
Natural Freshly Squeezed Juices, Lunch Meat, Tuna,
Fresh Vegetables, Plain or Buttered Popcorn, Olives, Eggs, Cheeses,
Sugarless gum, Pickles, Grape-Nuts,
Diet Soft Drinks, Fresh Fruit, Oatmeal, Most Yogurt
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