Children's Teeth

How soon should I take my child to see the dentist?

Your child should begin seeing a dentist by their first birthday. In addition to checking for decay or other problems, the dentist will teach you how to properly clean your child's teeth, identify fluoride needs, and discuss any habits that could affect the future of their teeth such as thumb sucking. This early age also allows your child to become accustomed to the dental office environment.

What do I need to know to maximize my child's dental health?

Here are some important facts:

- Dental care should begin during the first few days after birth. After every feeding, wipe the baby's gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque.

- To clean a child's teeth and gums, try sitting on a sofa with the child's head in your lap, or lay the child on the floor or a dressing table. Whatever position you use, be sure you can see into the child's mouth easily.

- As soon as the teeth appear in the mouth, decay can occur. So, parents should begin brushing their child's teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts. Because little hands aren't always the best at guiding a toothbrush to all areas of the mouth, it's important for an adult to be the chief tooth brusher for at least one of the two daily brushing sessions.

- Usually, molars have spaces between them when they first erupt. These will close with time. Once closed, flossing should begin. For most children, this will be around age three or four years of age. Remember, bits of food get trapped between the tight spaces of the teeth so the more closely the teeth fit together, the greater the need to floss.

- Primary teeth help children chew food, make sounds, form words and speak clearly, and maintain the shape of the mouth and face through growth stages. They also serve as natural space maintainers so that permanent teeth have a space to grow into.

- If a primary tooth is lost too early, nearby teeth can tip or move into the vacant space. When this happens, the permanent tooth has less space to grow into than is needed. The result can be crooked teeth or an uneven bite. To avoid these problems, your dentist may recommend using a space maintainer to reserve space for the permanent tooth.