When should my child first see the dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child be seen for an initial visit by their first birthday.

In areas where the risk for early childhood caries (ECC), also known as “baby bottle tooth decay” (BBTD), is widespread, this is a very important recommendation. I

How often should my child have a dental exam and cleaning?

Your child should have your teeth checked and cleaned at least twice a year, though your dentist may recommend more frequent visits.

Regular dental exams and cleaning visits are essential in preventing dental problems and maintaining the health of your child's teeth and gums.  At these visits, your child's teeth are cleaned and checked for cavities.  Additionally, there are many other things that are checked and monitored to help detect, prevent, and maintain your dental health. 

How often should I brush and floss?

Brushing and flossing help control the plaque and bacteria that cause dental disease.

Plaque is a film of food debris, bacteria, and saliva that sticks to the teeth and gums.  The bacteria in plaque convert certain food particles into acids that cause tooth decay.  Also, if plaque is not removed, it turns into calculus (tartar).  If plaque and calculus are not removed, they begin to destroy the gums and bone, causing periodontal (gum) disease.

Plaque formation and growth is continuous and can only be controlled by regular brushing, flossing, and the use of other dental aids.

Toothbrushing – A child should have their teeth brushed at least twice each day, especially before going to bed at night. Use an ADA approved soft bristle brush and a fluoride containing toothpaste. There is no reason to ever use a “fluoride free” toothpaste, such as are marketed toward young children.

For children, a scrubbing technique is best.

For adolescents, brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums, gently using a small, circular motion, ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums.

Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.

Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

Electric toothbrushes are also recommended.  They are easy to use and can remove plaque efficiently.  Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and allow the brush to do its job, several teeth at a time. Whatever motivates your child to brush, whether an old fashioned toothbrush, or an electric one, it really doesn’t matter which you ultimately will use.

Flossing – Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline.  Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone. Most children will actually only need to floss 3 or so times each week.

Although the following description is great for older adolescents and adults, children do great with the new flos holders that are available. A quick in and out between the teeth, especially the back teeth, is all it will take for children.

For adolescents, take 12-16 inches of dental floss and wrap it around the middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches of floss between the hands.

Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.

Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gumline.  Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.

When should baby teeth begin to erupt?

Although the average age for the eruption of the first baby tooth is 6 months, the normal range is actually from 3 to 17 months.

So don’t worry too much if your 1 year old hasn’t gotten their first tooth yet, there’s still plenty of time.

When do permanent teeth begin to erupt?

As with the baby teeth, the normal age range of eruption of the permanent teeth is very big. Although the average age is 6 years, the normal range is anywhere from 4 1/2 to 8 1/2 years of age.

In general, girls erupt their teeth about 6 months earlier than boys.

My child has a double row of teeth. What should I do?

In the bottom jaw, a temporary “double row” of teeth is normal. Nearly all of the time, the baby incisor teeth will fall out and your child’s tongue will push the grown up tooth forward, into whatever space is available.

If there is enough space to fit the grown up tooth, the tongue will push it into a straigt position. Otherwise, the tongue will push the tooth and it will try to fit it in as best as possible.

If your child had no space or very little space between the baby teeth, then in all likelihood, there won’t be enough space to fit in the new and larger grown up teeth.

Does my child need fluoride supplements?

If you live in a fluoridated community, meaning that your municipal water supply has the appropriate amount of fluoride added to it, then your child does not need additional daily doses of fluoride.

When should my child stop drinking from a bottle?

Pediatricians and Pediatric Dentists tend to agree that by age 1 year, your child should be weaned off the bottle. However, it is important that before that time your child not fall to sleep with a bottle, especially if filled with juice, as that is the primary cause of Early Childhood Caries (ECC)..

What is a sealant and does my child need them?

A sealant is a non-invasive procedure in which a composite coating is bonded to the occlusal (chewing) surfaces of permanent molars and fills in the pits and fissures in order to keep out plaque and bacteria from cavity prone areas. Not every tooth needs a sealant. It is based on the tooth anatomy and groove depth, the oral hygiene, the ability to keep the grooves of the tooth in question clean, and the susceptibility of the tooth to decay.

Although sealants are spectacular in preventing decay on the chewing surfaces of permanent teeth, there is little need for them on baby molars, since those teeth tend to have very smooth grooves and are much less likely to get the kind of cavity that sealants are so great at preventing.

When should a pacifier habit stop?

There are differing opinions on when and certainly no consensus on how. Most children will eventually give up the pacifier by age 3.

However, even though the prolonged use of a pacifier may cause some changes to the eruption of teeth, or even the shape of the jaws, if your child receives comfort and security from the pacifier, then that should be an important consideration. Any potential effects to the teeth can always be remedied at some future time. In fact, many of the effects will correct themselves as the grown up teeth are beginning to erupt.

Will my child need braces?

Although we can usually tell who will definitely need braces by the age of 3 years, we can’t tell who won’t definitely need braces until all of the grown up teeth have come in.

Although there are many patients who do not need braces, because there are no health related issues with the bite or the periodontal tissues, but who will want braces, for cosmetic reasons. In the normally developed child, there is expected to be a small amount of crowding, especially in the front teeth of the bottom jaw. However, we do not routinely recommend braces to resolve that degree of normal crowding, as it is a very personal decision.