Q. How should I clean my infant’s teeth?
A. Your child’s pediatric dentist can provide specific instructions for cleaning your infant’s teeth. Generally, you’ll want to clean their teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush made for smaller mouths, preferably one made explicitly for infants, at least one time per day. Cleaning the teeth at bedtime is a minimum recommendation; brushing twice daily is preferred for removing bacteria and plaque that can lead to decay and inflammation.
Q. Should my child see a pediatric dentist or a regular dentist?
A. Just as you’d take your child to see a pediatrician who specializes in conditions and concerns specific to children and is familiar with developmental expectations and benchmarks, a pediatric dentist is extensively trained to address issues specific to infants, children, and adolescents in developmentally appropriate and beneficial ways. Many pediatric dentists use methods and techniques to make a trip to the dentist a relaxing or even fun experience. Pediatric dentists have the same qualifications as general dentists, but they undergo additional training so they can specialize in pediatric dentistry and provide excellent general and specialized dental care to young patients, including young people with specific health needs.
Q. When should my child visit the dentist for the first time?
A. Even if your infant only has one tooth, they should see a pediatric dentist for their first dental checkup shortly after the emergence of the first tooth. In general, primary teeth begin to erupt at around six months of age, and the first dental visit should occur no later than a few months after the teeth begin to emerge, preferably no later than the first birthday.
Q. My child has a toothache and I don’t know how to help. What should I do?
A. First, call your dentist and schedule an appointment. Make sure to clearly explain the symptoms so the dental staff can determine how urgent your child’s condition is and schedule appropriately. To mitigate discomfort in the meantime, give your child children's acetaminophen; you may have heard that it’s helpful to rub aspirin directly on the gums, but this is not recommended, as the acids in aspirin are strong and could burn the delicate gum tissue and cause additional discomfort and harm. If the area is swollen, place a cold compress on the face, taking care to protect the skin with a soft cloth or towel. To keep the irritated area clean and soothe the ache, rinse the mouth with warm salt water periodically.
Q. My child sucks their thumb all the time. Is this harmful to their teeth?
A. It’s common for children to seek comfort by sucking on a pacifier or their thumb, and this is normal. These habits will only become problematic if they continue for an excessive amount of time. Many children stop habits like thumbsucking or pacifier use on their own, but when children continue these habits past the age of three, talk to their pediatric dentist about a mouth appliance or other methods for behavior modification to prevent possible damage to the teeth and defects in the bite.
Q. I’ve heard that toothpaste can be bad for infants. When should I start using toothpaste and how do I know how much to use?
A. It’s not a great idea to ingest excessive fluoride, but it’s definitely a good idea to use toothpaste to clean your child’s teeth as early as possible. Starting at birth, the gums should be cleaned with water and a soft cloth or infant toothbrush. As soon as the primary teeth begin to erupt, parents are encouraged to use a very small dab of fluoride toothpaste, on an infant toothbrush, to brush the teeth twice daily. By the time your child is about three, you should increase this toothpaste amount to a dollop the size of a pea. At this time, you can also begin teaching your child to brush their teeth on their own. Make sure to teach them to spit out excess toothpaste and to avoid swallowing excessive amounts while brushing, and make sure to monitor their brushing, helping them brush effectively as they learn how to do it on their own.
Q. How can I help prevent my child from getting tooth decay?
A. The first step in establishing your child’s oral health is to clean their oral cavity regularly when they are too young to do it on their own. Take your child to a pediatric dentist shortly after the eruption of their first tooth, preferably by the time of the first birthday. The dentist will recommend a routine for you and your child to brush and floss together, gradually teaching the child to brush and floss on their own. Your child’s dentist will also discuss nutritional and dietary recommendations and any other concerns you may have about your child’s continued oral health. Maintaining these healthy habits and continuing to see the pediatric dentist for regular checkups will help your child learn to manage their oral health and prevent tooth decay and gum disease from arising.
Q. My child’s dentist wants to take x-rays of their mouth. Are these safe?
A. Dental x-rays pose very little risk in general, and pediatric dentists are extra careful when administering dental x-rays to expose their patients to as little radiation as possible. High-speed films and lead aprons help ensure protection from radiation and guarantee patient safety.
Q. My pediatric dentist is recommending dental sealants for my child, but I don’t know if they’re important. Aren’t baby teeth going to fall out anyway? Why protect them?
A. Dental sealants protect the deep ridges and valleys on the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars, preventing food particles and debris from getting trapped in these crevices and causing tooth decay. These sealants are applied quickly and comfortably and can protect the teeth for years. You’re correct that primary teeth do fall out, starting at about the age of seven, but they’re still vitally important. Primary teeth help children learn how to speak clearly and teach them how to eat and chew comfortably and efficiently, but they also serve as placeholders for the secondary teeth. They help shape the mouth and maintain the structure of the face and establish the spatial relationship of the teeth and the bite. When primary teeth become infected or damaged, this damage can carry into the secondary teeth if not addressed, and establishing healthy habits when the primary teeth are present can help keep the secondary teeth permanently in the mouth, as they’re intended to be.
Q. I’m concerned that my child isn’t getting sufficient fluoride. Are there solutions for this?
A. Your pediatric dentist can assess the levels of fluoride in your primary water source. Municipal water supplies fluoridate drinking water in amounts that are usually adequate for children who drink this water and use it to brush their teeth. If your water source is a well, or if your municipal water is insufficiently fluoridated or your child drinks primarily non-fluoridated bottled water, your pediatric dentist can prescribe fluoride supplements and apply fluoride treatments in-office.
Q. My child likes to run around and play a lot, and I’m worried that they might knock out a permanent tooth. What should I do if this happens?
A. First, remain calm and find the tooth. Hold it by the crown of the tooth, rather than the root, and try to reinsert the root into the socket if you can. If this isn’t possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child, and the tooth in the milk, to the pediatric dentist immediately. If the accident occurs on a weekend or evening, call the dentist’s office to get pre-recorded emergency information, and follow instructions while you seek prompt medical attention.