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INFANT CARE ADVICE HOME
INFANTS:
From the time a baby is born, there is a natural instinct to suck. Thumb-sucking is a bad habit that a lot of children develop, as it can cause problems with growth of the jaws and teeth. It is better to introduce a soother to your baby because you are able to control when and how he or she uses a soother. Do not put anything on the soother such as sugar, honey or corn syrup, as they can cause cavities in the developing teeth.
Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle because mother's milk, cow's milk, formula and juice (even those labelled as unsweetened) all contain sugars. These sugars may cause a form of early childhood tooth decay called "baby bottle syndrome."
Even before the teeth start to come in, usually around 6 months of age, it is important to start cleaning your baby's mouth. To do this, lie the baby back and wipe the gums with a clean, damp washcloth or a special toothbrush designed for infants; do not use toothpaste.
Teething can be an uncomfortable time for baby and parents. To relieve the pain, you can rub the gums with a clean finger, the back of a small, cool spoon or an infant toothbrush which you place over your index finger. If these do not ease the pain, consult our office, your pharmacist or physician for suggestions on over-the-counter pain relievers.
It is important not to do the following:
- do not use a painkiller that can be rubbed on your child's gums; your child may swallow it
- do not give your child teething biscuits, as they may have sugar added
Once the teeth have started to come in, lift the baby's lips once a month and check the teeth. Look for dull, white spots or lines on the teeth; these may be on the necks of the teeth near the gums. Also look for any dark spots on the teeth. If you see any of these signs, call our office so that the decay can be treated immediately before any pain or infection develops. It is true that baby teeth will eventually fall out, but some of them will be in your child's mouth until the age of 12. That is why it is important to take care of the primary teeth and treat any decay that may be present. Broken and infected teeth can be harmful to both a child's physical health and self-esteem. If a baby tooth becomes so badly infected that it needs to be extracted, the teeth on either side may move into the space, preventing the permanent tooth underneath from coming in. To prevent this, a metal or plastic space maintainer may be put on to keep the space open.
All 20 of the primary teeth are usually in by the time a child reaches age 2 or 3, and girls generally begin to get their teeth before boys do. The following chart shows when the primary teeth erupt in most children. Should you have any concerns about your child's teeth, please contact us.
TODDLERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN (up to age 6 or 7):
As much as they want to, young children are not able to properly clean their own teeth. It is important for the parents to do it for them when they are very young and do it with them as they get older.
Here are some suggestions on brushing your child's teeth:
- have your child stand beside, but slightly in front of you as you both face the bathroom mirror.
- tip his/her head back against your stomach so that you can see both the upper and lower teeth.
- using a child-sized, soft toothbrush with a tiny dab of fluoride toothpaste(the size of a pea), gently brush the same way that you would brush your own teeth. Starting where the teeth and gums meet and using gentle circles, brush up for the bottom teeth(inside and outside), down for the top teeth(inside and outside) and back and forth for the tops or biting surfaces of the back teeth. *Remember: "Up like the flowers, down like the rain, back and forth like a choo-choo train." Make sure that your child spits out the toothpaste and rinses well with water.
- replace your child's toothbrush every 3-4 months, as you do your own.
- initially, brush your child's teeth at least twice a day(in the morning and just before bed). As your child becomes more familiar with the proper technique, he or she may brush in the morning with your supervision. It is important for a parent to continue brushing at bedtime until the child is able to do a good job on their own. You should also floss your child's teeth once a day, ideally before brushing at bedtime.
- when your child is able to write (not print) his or her name, he or she has the manual dexterity to properly brush and floss.
We recommend bringing your child in for their first dental visit around the age of 3 or 4, unless you see black spots on the teeth or your child complains of mouth pain at a younger age. During the first dental visit, we will review your child's medical history, take any necessary x-rays which will show us how the teeth are developing, and examine the head, neck, gums and teeth. In most cases, we will also clean the teeth and administer a fluoride treatment.
FLUORIDE:
Fluoride is a mineral found in nature, which makes the outer layer(enamel) of the teeth stronger and less likely to get cavities.
The methods of getting fluoride are:
- in tap water for those who live in areas where fluoride has been added to the drinking water. Our water in Niagara Falls is not fluoridated.
- in fluoride toothpaste
- in fluoride supplements (tablets which are chewed)
- in fluoride treatments
Fluoride is most effective when the teeth are developing, and we generally give fluoride treatments to all of our patients while the baby teeth are present. We also recommend daily fluoride rinses to some people, regardless of their age, who are more prone to tooth decay.
SNACKING:
Most kids love to snack and, although it is fine to have the occasional treat, it is important to limit sweet, sugary, starchy or sticky snacks and soft drinks. If these types of snacks are consumed between meals, encourage your child to brush immediately afterwards or rinse the mouth thoroughly if brushing is not possible. Healthy snacks include fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, plain yogurt, nuts, seeds and popcorn. The best between meal drink is water because even unsweetened juices contain natural sugars. Also watch for fruit roll-ups and dried fruit snacks because they have a very high sugar content and stick to the teeth.
DENTAL SAFETY:
Here are some ways to protect your child's teeth:
- always use infant car seats and seat-belts when you drive.
- since babies will chew on almost anything, keep them away from hard objects which could crack their teeth.
- when your child is learning to walk, he or she will probably fall a lot. If a tooth becomes broken, cracked or loose, contact our office to schedule an appointment.
- as your child gets older and begins to play sports, it is very important that he or she wear a mouthguard to prevent injuries to the teeth and jaws. Since we are part of the Niagara Peninsula Sports Mouthguard Program developed by Dr. Doucet's Orthodontic office, we can take impressions of your child's teeth for a custom-fitted mouthguard available in a range of colours at a very reasonable price.
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