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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
