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Pediatric
dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. We have 2-3 years specialty
training following dental school and limit our practice to
children from infancy through adolescence. We're trained to
help children feel comfortable and secure during dental visits.
Our office is designed with children in mind and our staff
loves working with kids. |
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You should
clean your baby's teeth with a small head, soft bristled
toothbrush, preferably one designed for infants. Use once
a day at bedtime to remove plaque bacteria that can lead
to tooth decay. |
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To prevent
tooth decay in a baby,
avoid nursing your child to sleep or putting anything other
then water in their bedtime bottle. Tooth decay can begin as
soon as baby teeth emerge (between 6 and 10 months). Clean
your baby's teeth and gums with a damp cloth or gauze pad after
feeding to remove plaque. |
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The American Association of Pediatric
Dentistry (AAPD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
recommend children start visits to
the dentist by their first birthday. |
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Thumb
sucking and pacifier habits are only harmful for a
child's teeth if they go on for a very long time. If they
are still sucking their thumbs or fingers when permanent
teeth erupt, a mouth appliance may be recommended. |
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Begin
using fluoridated toothpaste when your child is 2-3 years
old. Prior to that, clean their
teeth with water or non-fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristled
toothbrush. Supervise tooth brushing to make sure no more than
a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is on the brush. Children
should spit out, not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing. |
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Replace
toothbrushes when bristles become split or worn out. This typically occurs every three
months. Also, change the brush after an illness. |
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Visit
our pediatric dental office twice a year to
help your child stay cavity-free. Our
fluoride treatments recharge fluoride content in tooth enamel, shielding
your children's teeth and preventing cavities. |
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There
is very little risk in dental x-rays for children. We use a minimal amount of radiation and
limit exposure. |
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Dental
sealants work by filling
in the crevasses on the chewing surface of the teeth.
This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the
teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast, comfortable
and effective. |
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If your
child has a toothache,
first rinse the irritated area with warm salt water. Place
a cold compress on the face if it's swollen. Give your child
Children's Motrin or Children's tylenol for pain. See us as
soon as possible. |
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You can
protect your child's teeth during sporting events with
a soft plastic mouth guard. We can provide a custom-fitted
mouth guard to protect their teeth,
lips, cheeks and gums from sport related injuries. |
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If your
child's tooth is chipped or fractured,
immediately rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses.
Contact our office right away. If you find the broken fragment,
bring it to the office. |
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If a permanent
tooth is knocked out, try to find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather then
the root and try to reinsert it in the socket. If that's not
possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and call our office
immediately. The faster you act, the better the chance of saving
the tooth. |
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Children's
Discolored teeth have many causes - trauma to the tooth,
severe illness during tooth development,
exposure to certain medicines such as tetracycline and poor
oral hygiene. We have several good treatments to restore discolored
teeth. |
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Snacking
before bedtime can be destructive to children's teeth. Saliva
makes it possible to swallow food and helps keep teeth and
gums clean. The flow of saliva slows during sleep, so bits
of food still in the mouth will remain there overnight until
brushing and flossing in the morning. |
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To prevent
tooth decay, limit the servings of sugars and starches,
and serve a balanced diet. Visit
our pediatric dental office twice yearly for checkups. |
