Huntingburg IN 47542 202 East 17th Street (812)683-2006

Patient Info

Dental Care For Kids

"Early care for your child's teeth will protect their smile and their health"

Children's oral health is just as important as adult oral health. It is important that you start cleaning and brushing your child's gums and teeth as soon as they are born. Wiping your child's mouth out with a clean warm wash cloth after each feeding will remove all the sugary particles and enhance good oral health. Once your child's first teeth erupt, purchase a child size tooth brush with soft bristles for gentle cleaning. It is important to buy a child size tooth brush that is designed for their little hands and mouth. We recommend brushing child's teeth twice daily. Brush once in the morning and once right before bed.  Brushing will remove sugary substances that form plaque that sits on teeth from formula and juices. Plaque will eventually form dental caries on the enamel of teeth.  A child's tooth brush should be replaced about every three months. There are also infant toothpastes that you may buy. It is important that you get a non fluoridated tooth paste until your child is able to spit out the toothpaste. Only use a small pea sized amount.

When brushing your child's teeth hold brush at a 45 degree angle along the gumline. Gently brush back and forth in a sulcular motion using short strokes. Brush outer surface first, then inner surface and last the chewing surface. It is important to brush your child's teeth for at least 2 minutes; this will ensure that all teeth surfaces are cleaned adequately.

The values instilled in your children today will impact them for the rest of their lives.  Getting your baby into a routine is important for them to understand they need to brush their teeth at least twice daily. It will also help your child if they brush at the same time as their parents. It encourages them to be like their mommy and daddy. When your child reaches an age where they are able to brush their teeth by themselves they should be able to do so. Although, it is still important to supervise them to make sure they get all surfaces.

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Throughout your child's life they will have two sets of teeth. The first set is called primary teeth. The primary teeth began to form in the second trimester of your pregnancy. Primary teeth play a vital role in your child's life; they help with clear speech, chewing their food and esthetic. There are 20 primary teeth. They will start erupting at about the age of 6 months, and will continue to erupt through the age of 3 years old. The primary teeth guide the permanent teeth into place, this allows adequate space.

The secondary set of teeth is called permanent teeth. They start to erupt at around 6 years old. All will be present by the time your child is 14 years old, except the wisdom teeth which will appear much later. There are 32 permanent teeth total.

Things parents can do to help protect their child's teeth:

• Choose to eat regular nutritious meals, avoiding between meal snacking
• Use fluoride toothpaste. (Pea size amount only.)
• Dental sealants protect teeth from decay.

Fluoride

Fluoride is good for healthy development of permanent teeth. Fluoride should be in regular drinking water from the faucet. There is also fluoride in toothpastes. Too much fluoride during permanent tooth development can be dangerous. Fluorosis occurs when too much fluoride is given to the child between the ages of 1-4 years. In its severe form there can be black or brown stains on the permanent teeth. In its mild form there can be tiny white streaks or spots that appear on the teeth.

Dental Caries

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Dental caries are the leading chronic disease among children in America. Sugary beverages and food are a leading reason why caries form on teeth. The sugars mixed with bacteria in the mouth form acid which attacks the teeth. It takes 20 minutes for these attacks to seize. Therefore continuous snacking and drinking of sodas and juice put your child's teeth under constant attack. It is better to give your child milk and juice during meals because saliva flow is increased thus neutralizing the acidity formed in the mouth.

It is important that you do not allow your child to go to bed with milk or juice or allow them to continually drink these substances throughout the day. Young children can develop what's known as baby bottle tooth decay. Milk and juice contain sugars that pool in the mouth and sit on your child's teeth while they are asleep. Decay occurs quicker in babies because they are unable to clear the saliva from their mouths. Plaque then mixes with these sugars and forms acid that sits on your child's teeth until it is brushed away. If you are going to allow your child to have a cup throughout the day or take naps with a bottle, you should only give them water. It is also important never to dip your child's pacifier into anything that contains sugar.

Thumb sucking

Suckling is your baby's way of soothing him or herself. It is a natural occurring reflux. Your child may begin to suck on his/her thumb, fingers, pacifier or other objects.    Suckling provides a sense of security to your child when away from you or is under anxiety. This makes them feel secure and happy. It is more common that your baby will suck on his thumb when he is tired because sucking induces sleep. 

After permanent teeth arrive, sucking can cause problems with growth of the mouth and alignment of teeth. The severity of the problem is determined by how aggressive the child's suckling is. Passive sucking will be less harmful to a child's teeth than aggressive sucking.

It is important that children stop sucking their thumb as soon as permanent teeth are ready to erupt. The usual age children stop sucking their thumb is between the age of 2 and 4 years. This happens because they find other hobbies they find interesting. They also are more involved with children their own age. Peer pressure can also take part in your child's choice to quit. When they realize other children are not sucking their thumb or fingers they are influenced to stop.

When helping your child quit sucking his/her thumb, here are a few tips you can try.

• Instead of scolding your child for sucking, try encouraging them when they are not.
• Anxiety is a big reason for a child to suck his/her thumb. If you work on getting rid of this anxiety they will be able to relax more and not feel the need to suck his/her thumb.
• Rewarding your child when they refrain from sucking during difficult times, such as separation from parents or when under discipline.
• You may also need to bandage the thumb with a sock at night time.

Sealants

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When a child gets tooth decay it often occurs on the top chewing surface of the teeth.     The back molars have deep grooves and pits in them that make it easy for plaque to stick and form acid which attacks the enamel. Persistent acid attacks will eventually cause cavities. There is a way to protect your child's teeth from getting cavities and needing fillings. A sealant is a material applied to the teeth where decay occurs most often. A sealant is a plastic resin that is bonded into the grooves of the molar teeth. This material acts as a barrier between the tooth and plaque.

Sealants are easily applied to each tooth in a series of steps. First the doctor will take a bur and clean the grooves of each tooth. Second a bonding agent is applied to the tooth to help the resin stick to the tooth. Then a material is placed into the grooves (usually this material is tooth colored) and a curing light is used to harden the material. The assistant will then adjust your child's bite.

Sealants last several years before they need to be reapplied. At each hygiene visit the dentist will check these sealants to make sure they are intact. As long as the sealant remains intact the tooth will be protected from decay. Sealants hold up to the wear and tear of everyday chewing. Sealants are helpful on both primary and permanent teeth.

Emergencies

It is important to know how to handle an emergency when it comes to your child's teeth. It can make the difference between saving and losing their teeth.

Knocked-out tooth

If your child's tooth gets knocked out, it is important to keep the tooth moist. If the tooth is dirty rinse it in water but be careful not to scrub it or remove any ligaments. It is best to replace the tooth back into the socket if possible, if not it is best to store it in cold milk.

Cracked or broken tooth

If your child breaks his/her tooth, rinse mouth with warm water to clean the area. Place ice pack on face to slow swelling. Take your child to the dentist as soon as possible.

Possible broken jaw

Apply cold compresses to the face to keep swelling down. Take your child to the dentist or emergency room as soon as possible.

Bitten tongue or lip

Clean the area with a washcloth; apply cold to keep the swelling down. Take child to emergency room right away.

Pregnant moms

If you are pregnant, it is important to get prenatal care and eat a well balanced diet. Folic acid will help to prevent birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. Regular cleaning and exams are important during pregnancy because hormone levels can cause swelling of the gum tissue. This may lead to gum disease, which has links to preterm births.

Dental work should only be done during pregnancy if it is going to prevent infection. The second trimester is the ideal time for dental work. Routine x-rays are usually postponed until after the baby is born. The only time it is important to receive x-rays is in an emergency situation. Root Canal Therapy and Extraction of an infected tooth should be dealt with immediately to prevent harm to the baby.