The Whole Tooth: The Basics
Parents play a critical role in dental health for their children. From good prenatal care to their brushing habits, parents help form the future of their children’s teeth.
One of the best places to start is to look to your own dental habits, to be a good role model for your children. The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes, as well as flossing every day. Visits to the dentist are encouraged twice a year for cleanings and checkups.
Baby’s First Visit
Baby’s first visit actually starts with their mother’s prenatal dentistry care, to prevent decay and bacteria from being transmitted to the fetus. Once the little one has arrived and starts to cut teeth (around 6 months) it’s a good habit to wipe gums after meals with a soft, warm washcloth.
Then dentists recommend a toothbrush with a soft, small head – it doesn’t need to be a tiny toothbrush for your little one. You can just start with a dry toothbrush at first, then get it wet and then work up to toothpaste. The reason there are “kid’s toothpastes” isn’t just for the fun flavors, but the absence of fluoride that’s found in adult toothpastes. Ingesting too much fluoridated toothpaste can cause an upset stomach.
Dr. Michael Hasty, a pediatric dentist in Virginia Beach with Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics, says, “Special starter toothpaste is important if kids can’t spit. Use non-fluoride paste like baby Oragel, and then just a pea-sized amount.”
Dr. Tim Johnston of Norge Dental Center recommends this method of tooth brushing starting around 12 months. “Have them sit towards you in your lap. Cradle their head in your hand, and brush gently. If they cry, that’s OK—it helps them open wide.”
Many parents wonder when it’s time to take their baby in to the dentist—and most dentists recommend as soon as possible after their first teeth come in as an educational experience. You also want your children to see the dentist as friendly and the dentist chair as a positive place to be. Even if that hasn’t been your own personal experience, you can help make it that way for children.
“Try not to convey negative experiences. Just give them a gentle explanation, and try not overdo it—or your kid will wonder ‘Why is my parent so nervous?’” says Hasty.
Even if you might think it’s not necessary to take them so early, it can help reinforce good hygiene habits and screen for potential issues. Johnston says, “Cavities can occur one year after teeth erupt. Kids can begin losing teeth as early as 18 months or 2 years, due to poor oral care or lack of fluoride.” It also gives the dentist a chance to check gums, teeth and lips to watch for any abnormalities.
“It’s a misconception that they are just baby teeth, because early decay can lead to a number of problems,” says Dr. Sebastiana Springmann of New Town Dental Arts. She said that pulling baby teeth because of decay means less space in jaw, which can lead to crowding and jaw development problems.
For the very young patients, Springmann recommends avoiding giving your child a bottle of juice or milk to go to sleep with because it can cause “nursing bottle decay” due to sugar sitting on teeth. She says that she often talks to parents about their children’s diet, and emphasizes that candy should not be a bribe, and that fresh fruit is a better option.
So take your baby in for a “happy visit,” just to get their teeth counted and to look out for any potential issues.
Toddler Chompers
During the toddler years, the dentist may look at teeth, polish them and varnish them with fluoride. You may need to tailor visits to your child’s needs and personality. Many modern dentist offices feature television and headsets so that children can watch a show and block out the sounds of the office. Many offices have toys in the waiting areas and goody bags full of stickers, coloring books, and sand timers, making a visit to the dentist appeal to younger kids and enhance the positive associations.
“The dental community is tuned in and there’s an effort to make going to the dentist more fun,” says Johnston. “Most dentists have a favorable view of kids, they want to help them grow into less afraid patients.”
“The dental community is tuned in and there’s an effort to make going to the dentist more fun,”
Hasty says at his practice they’ve even changed the way they talk to kids. “For example, ‘sleepy pinch’ is the phrase we use for ‘shot.’ We never ‘pull teeth’…we ‘wiggle them until they fall out,’” he says. “This simple adjustment in our language has produced dramatic results in keeping our patients calm and comfortable before, during and after treatment.” At Springmann’s office, the implements have been renamed for kids: the suction hose is” Mr. Thirsty,” the drill is “Mr. Whistle,” the polish brush “Mr. Tickle,” with Ms. Sunshine (the light) shining over it all.
At this age, Springmann feels that one of the biggest pitfalls is “non-nutritive sucking habits” such as thumb sucking or using a pacifier. “Non-nutritive sucking habits create a force that constricts the growth of the midface—and can cause cross bite and underbite. I would stop pacifier use as early as possible, at least by age 4,” she says. She said that surprisingly, she’s seen kids up to age 8 still using pacifiers.
Tooth Fairy Time
Around age 6, baby teeth start to loosen and fall out. One of the most common questions parents have is: “What’s normal?”
“We get more phone calls on this than anything,” says Johnston. “’My friend kids have lost teeth and mine haven’t’, which is common. Another is that they have teeth coming in behind their baby teeth. These are known as “shark teeth” because of the multiple rows, but it’s normal.”
Dentists report children lose their first teeth between ages 4 and 8, and there’s a general sequence of losing the front teeth first. Parents should watch for redness at the site to ensure it’s not infected or an abscess. Also watch for children to complain about teeth being too loose or any biting or chewing issues.
It is crucial at this time to make sure that good oral hygiene habits are in place, because teeth are growing under the gums as “seeds” that take up to 3 years before they are seen in mouth. That means a 12 year molar starts growing at age nine, so you’ll want to make sure they are strong.
Springmann recommends using “disclosing agents” like Agent Cool Blue or dental tablets to reveal areas where brushing isn’t removing all the plaque. These agents show the plaque stains deeper in color the longer they’ve been there. “This helps show them how good a job they did,” she says. Springmann recommends an electronic toothbrush timer, egg timer or stopwatch to encourage kids to keep brushing the full two minutes recommended by the American Dental Association.
You may also find that the dentist is recommending sealants, a preventive measure commonly used on permanent molars with deep groves in the chewing surface. The grooves are genetic, and sealant coats them to keep the bacteria out.
Toothy Teens
Teenagers have more control of their dental hygiene, but have different challenges. Two important things to watch for: toothaches and mouth guards for sports. Toothaches can lead to students being unable to concentrate or eat properly. Any signs of mouth pain should be looked at by a dentist as soon as possible. Dentists insist on mouth guards for any sport. “It’s not cool but so important to help protect teeth and prevent concussions. A blow to the jaw or face will be absorbed by the guard,” says Springmann.
Hasty says that most sports-related injuries to the mouth and head area occur when a child is not wearing a mouth guard. He recommends wearing one during any sports activity in which there is risk of head, face or neck injury, including hockey, soccer, karate, basketball, baseball, skating or skateboarding.
Help your children get a good start—and maybe take this chance to improve your own dental health with this review of the basics!
