About Pediatric Dental Care

Overview

As soon as your baby's first tooth grows in, a pediatric dentist will be on the lookout for early childhood caries (cavities) that can develop from consuming any food beyond breast milk. Routine visits to a pediatric dentist also help a young child adjust to the idea of regular dental care and allow both parent and child to ask questions and learn proper dental hygiene techniques. Routine care will help prevent serious dental problems from developing in the future, too.

Time Frame

You can begin your child's dental care right at birth by using a soft, infant-size toothbrush or a soft, wet cloth to massage and clean the gums. When your child's first tooth appears, usually between six months and one year, start brushing twice a day. At that point, you can schedule a first visit to a pediatric dentist. Visits every six months thereafter, unless otherwise scheduled, are common and can help establish good dental hygiene habits from an early age. Between the ages of about 6 and 12 years, children lose baby teeth and develop permanent teeth. Throughout this period, they have a mix of teeth in their mouths that require different types of care.

Treatment

Pediatric dentists perform regular cleanings, tooth and gum checks, occasional X-rays and other routine preventive and palliative care. Some will pull teeth, if necessary, or they will refer you to another dentist who does extractions. As children get older, pediatric dentists can determine the need for fluoride treatments and, as the molars grow in, apply sealants on those back teeth where most cavities occur.

Pediatric dentists are specially trained to treat both children as well as adults with special needs, who may have more dental health problems than the rest of the population due to their physical or emotional condition or the medications they must take.

Benefits

As soon as teeth begin to erupt and children eat or drink anything besides breast milk, they are at risk for early childhood caries. The earlier you begin routine pediatric dental care, the lower the risk of damage to your child's primary teeth. Even though "baby" teeth eventually fall out, they are important because they allow young children to eat properly and maintain self-confidence. By starting early, children learn how to manage their own dental health in anticipation of getting permanent "adult" teeth.

Home Care

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends using a soft, age-appropriate toothbrush for your child's teeth. Use just a light dab of fluoridated toothpaste until your child is about 2 years old. From that point, up to age 6, use the pea-size amount recommended on most tubes of toothpaste. Help young children brush correctly and thoroughly. Pediatric dentists routinely demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques with you and your child and often hand out "goody bags" filled with a new toothbrush, brushing reminders, timers and other dental accessories to take home.

Considerations

The healthy development of all teeth is affected by your child's diet. Most of the starchy and sugary foods children love, such as cake, candy, sodas, juices, chips, pretzels and even milk, are culprits when it comes to causing tooth decay. Since children do not usually have the patience or focus to thoroughly clean their teeth, it is important to watch your child's diet, schedule routine dental check-ups and continue to supervise brushing and flossing at home, long after children have taken over the job themselves.