Children's Dentist Englewood, NJ
Infants
Infants should be seen by our
children's dentist
after the first six months of age, and at least by the child's first
birthday. By this time, the baby's first teeth, or primary teeth, are
beginning to erupt and it is a critical time to spot any problems before
they become big concerns.
Conditions like gum irritation and thumb-sucking could create problems later
on. Babies who suck their thumbs may be setting the stage for malformed
teeth and bite relationships.
Another problem that can be spotted early is a condition called "baby bottle
tooth decay," which is caused by sugary substances in breast milk and some
juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby's mouth.
If left untreated, this can lead to premature decay of your baby's future
primary teeth, which can later hamper the proper formation of permanent
teeth.
One of the best ways to avoid baby bottle tooth decay is to not allow your
baby to nurse on a bottle while going to sleep. Avoid dipping pacifiers in
sweet substances such as honey, because this only encourages early decay in
the baby's mouth. Encouraging your young child to drink from a cup as early
as possible will also help stave off the problems associated with baby
bottle tooth decay.
Teething, Pacifiers and Thumb-Sucking
Teething is a sign that your child's gums are sore. This is perfectly
normal. You can help relieve this by allowing the baby to suck on a teething
ring, or gently rubbing your baby's gums with the back of a small spoon, a
piece of wet gauze, or even your finger.
For babies under the age of 4, teething rings and pacifiers can be safely
used to facilitate the child's oral needs for relieving gum pain and for
suckling. After the age of 4, pacifiers are generally discouraged because
they may interfere with the development of your child's teeth.
Moreover, thumb-sucking should be strongly discouraged because it can lead
to malformed teeth that become crooked and crowded.
Primary and Permanent Teeth
Every child grows 20 primary teeth, usually by the age of 3. These teeth are
gradually replaced by the age of 12 or so with a full set of 28 permanent
teeth, and later on, four molars called "wisdom teeth."
It is essential that a child's primary teeth are healthy, because their
development sets the stage for permanent teeth. If primary teeth become
diseased or do not grow in properly, chances are greater that their
permanent replacements will suffer the same fate. For example, poorly formed
primary teeth that don't erupt properly could crowd out spaces reserved for
other teeth. Space maintainers can sometimes be used to correct this
condition, if it is spotted early enough.
Brushing
Babies' gums and teeth can be gently cleaned with special infant
toothbrushes that fit over your finger. Water is suitable in lieu of
toothpaste (because the baby may swallow the toothpaste). Parents are
advised to avoid fluoride toothpastes on children under the age of 2.
Primary teeth can be cleansed with child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrushes.
Remember to use small portions of toothpaste (a pea-sized portion is
suitable), and teach your child to spit out, not swallow, the toothpaste
when finished.
Fluoride
Fluoride is generally present in most public drinking water systems. If you are unsure about your community's water and its fluoride content, or learn that it has an unacceptable level of fluoride in it, there are fluoride supplements your dentist can prescribe. Your child may not be getting enough fluoride just by using fluoride toothpaste.
Toothaches
Toothaches can be common in young children. Sometimes, toothaches are caused
by erupting teeth, but they also could indicate a serious problem.
You can safely relieve a small child's toothache without the aid of
medication by rinsing the mouth with a solution of warm water and table
salt. If the pain doesn't subside, acetaminophen may be used. If such
medications don't help, contact your dentist immediately.
Injuries
You can help your child prevent oral injuries by closely supervising him
during play and not allowing the child to put foreign objects in the mouth.
For younger children involved in physical activities and sports, mouth
guards are strongly encouraged, and can prevent a whole host of injuries to
the teeth, gums, lips and other oral structures.
Mouth guards are generally small plastic appliances that safely fit around
your child's teeth. Many mouth guards are soft and pliable when opened, and
mold to the child's teeth when first inserted.
If the tooth has been knocked out, try to place the tooth back in its socket
while waiting to see our
children's dentist
. Remember to hold the dislocated tooth by the crown—not the
root. If you cannot relocate the tooth, place it in a container of cold
milk, saline or the victim's own saliva. Place the tooth in the solution.
First, rinse the mouth of any blood or other debris and place a cold cloth
or compress on the cheek near the injury. This will keep down swelling.
For a fractured tooth, it is best to rinse with warm water and again, apply
a cold pack or compress. Ibuprofen may be used to help keep down swelling.
If the tooth fracture is minor, the tooth can be sanded or if necessary,
restored by the dentist if the pulp is not severely damaged.
If a child's primary tooth has been loosened by an injury or an emerging
permanent tooth, try getting the child to gently bite down on an apple or
piece of caramel; in some cases, the tooth will easily separate from the
gum.
Irritation caused by retainers or braces can sometimes be relieved by
placing a tiny piece of cotton or gauze on the tip of the wire or other
protruding object. If an injury occurs from a piece of the retainer or
braces lodging into a soft tissue, contact our
children's dentist
immediately and avoid dislodging it yourself.
Sealants
Sealants fill in the little ridges on the chewing part of your teeth to protect and seal the tooth from food and plaque. The application is easy to apply and typically last for several years.