What Every Parent Should Know About Their Children's Teeth.

Management of your child's teeth should begin during pregnancy. The baby's teeth are forming from about the 13th week. Great care should be taken during pregnancy to keep mother healthy. It is essential to eat nutritiously and abstain from harmful substances (alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and many prescription drugs).

Oral care begins soon after birth. Formula, and to a lesser extent, breastmilk, can harbor bacteria in the child's mouth. The baby's first and best defense against bacteria is saliva and the natural sucking instinct. The parent can assist by giving occasional small amounts of water in a bottle and cleaning the gums after each feeding. This can be done by wiping the gums gently with a clean damp cloth or gauze pad wrapped around the finger.

The first, (primary, deciduous), or baby teeth erupt at 6 months (+/- 2 months). These are the lower central incisors. This time frame, as well as others given, are "norms" and can vary with different individuals. For example, some babies are born with teeth already erupted, which is a good argument for formula over breast milk.

You can begin brushing your child's teeth as soon as they appear. Use a soft damp toothbrush with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. Parental supervision of regular brushing should continue at least to 12 years of age. Always use ADA approved fluoridated toothpaste and ask your local dentist about the right amount of fluoride for your baby's diet.

Nursing bottle caries (cavities) A toddler can get rampant decay on all the teeth if he or she gets in the habit of going to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. If you must give your baby a bottle at nap or bedtime, use water. The bacteria of the mouth thrives on sugars and produces a by product of acid that eats the teeth. This is what causes decay. Allowing the teeth to be bathed in sugar for hours is an ideal environment for bacteria. For the same reasons, it is important for all of us to brush after meals. Sugar is not poison, but that sticky gooey candy that a child eats before going to bed is quite a problem. Removing the fuel from the acid factories is what brushing and flossing are all about. The key is to clean the teeth right after eating before the acid factories get into full production.

Sealants Sealants are an excellent added defense against cavities. Sealants are a plastic coating painted on the grooved chewing surface of the back teeth. This is one of the most common areas for cavities to start. Sealants prevent bacteria from getting a foothold in these grooves and building the acid producing factories that lead to tooth decay.

Fall 2005

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