Baby’s First Teeth? Time for a Visit to the Dentist
About one in five children in the U.S. between the ages of 2 and 5 will develop at least one cavity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—and the rate of tooth decay only becomes higher as children get older. The results are far more than cosmetic: Poor oral health affects children’s nutrition, speech, and ability to learn, among other things.
The good news is that dental decay is preventable, and there is much parents can do to ensure a lifetime of happy and healthy smiles, says Cheen Loo, professor and chair of pediatric dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She offers some advice:
Start Early
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first dental appointment should be soon after that first pearly little tooth appears, or at least by a child’s first birthday. The visit is not so much for the baby or toddler in the chair, as for the parents, Loo says. Like an early pediatrician appointment, “it’s for us to provide education to the parent about how to take care of the teeth and what they can anticipate,” Loo says.
Emergency Preparedness
Very young children often fall or bang into something, injuring their teeth or gums. That’s another reason it’s good to have an established relationship with a dental office early on, “because otherwise, you’ll be trying to figure out where to go, who do you contact” as your child is hurt or bleeding, Loo says. There’s always the hospital emergency room, she says, “but if it’s a bigger emergency department, dental trauma is not as high a priority,” and you’ll be spending a lot of time in the waiting area. A dentist who already knows your child may be able to offer advice over the phone and decide whether the youngster needs to be seen immediately.
Toothbrush Time – First Teeth
Even the newest baby teeth should be cleaned with a toothbrush, Loo says; the tradition of using a washcloth to clean little teeth simply isn’t as effective. For children younger than 3, use a smear of fluoridated toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. For children older than 3, think the size of a green pea. It’s important not to let children swallow toothpaste, Loo says, so parents should be the ones to put the toothpaste on the brush, and to supervise toothbrushing. Children should brush twice a day, morning and night.
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