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Copyright © 2004
James
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Taking
proper care of the teeth is an activity which should be started early
in the life of an infant or child, as soon as the first teeth come
in. Developing and emphasizing good oral health care habits very early
in life will give an excellent start to established lifetime habits
for the care of healthy teeth and gums. Some frequently asked questions
about the oral health care of infants and children that are addressed
in this section are:
- When should
I start to bring my child to visit the dentist?
- What is baby
bottle tooth decay?
- Is my child
getting the proper amounts of fluoride?
- How can I prevent
my infant or child from getting cavities?
- What? My child
needs orthodontic treatment?
First
Dental Visit
The first appointment
should occur within 6 months of the eruption of the first primary tooth
(baby tooth), but no later than 12 months of age. Dental visits for
children have a positive contribution to the child’s oral health.
In addition to the evaluation of proper tooth growth and regular oral
health examinations, the benefits of these early visits include:
- getting your
infant familiar and comfortable with the atmosphere of the dental
office
- getting educated
on the oral health of your infant
Baby
Bottle Tooth Decay
Decay is frequently
found in very young children who routinely have been given a nursing
bottle when going to sleep or while prolonged nursing at the breast
has occurred. This is caused by sugars in the bottle or breast milk.
To avoid this problem follow these guidelines:
- Don’t
allow the child to continue sipping for extended periods of time
throughout the day. Instead, have the child drink and then be
finished with the feeding.
- Cleanse the
oral cavity by brushing or use gauze gently on gums.
- Certain pacifiers
(“Nuk” or an alternate orthodontic nipple) may be
used to help pacify infants. If your child has colic or gastric
problems, see your physician.
- If your baby
is in the habit of using a bottle at bedtimes, the use of water
only is okay. Alternately, get into the habit of not putting the
baby to bed with a nursing bottle.
Fluoride
Fluoride is beneficial
to the oral health of patients in general. This is especially important
during infancy, childhood and teenage years. An ideal time to evaluate
the amount of fluoride available to your family is during the infancy
of a child.
The concentration
of fluoride in breast milk is very low, even when the mother uses community
water containing fluoride. Infants who are breast fed need a daily
supplement of fluoride after they turn 6 months old.
An optimal amount
of fluoride in drinking water is 1 ppm. To know how much is in your
water, it should be tested. Supplemental fluoride is available when
the fluoride levels are not high enough. For more information consult
with your dentist.
Oral
Health
Getting into the
habit of cleansing the infant’s mouth is essential for the future
health of the mouth. It is important to cleanse not only the teeth,
but also the tongue, tissue, and gums. Oral infections can occur, such
as thrush (a fungal infection).
How
to Clean the Mouth of An Infant or Toddler
Proper Positioning.
The father and mother can sit knee to knee with the infant positioned
on their laps. Use a clean washcloth to clean the surfaces of the teeth,
gums and tongue. If the child is old enough a brush may be used on
the teeth.
Additional tips for
the oral health of an infant:
- Flossing (yes,
flossing!) is necessary when an infant’s teeth are close
together.
- Supply healthy
snacks for your infant or toddler
- Limit fruit
juices to 1 or 2 a day, followed by water
- By 12 months
of age a cup should be used and the bottle should be taken away
- Eliminate simple
sugars, such as candy, potato chips, kool-aids, pop, sports drinks
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