Infant Dental Care
Risks to your child’s teeth
As soon as your child gets that first tooth, he or she can be at risk for developing cavities. Even though these “baby teeth” aren’t permanent, it’s still important to make sure that they’re taken care of. Food, drinks and even toys can contain bacteria that can cause decay and lead to premature loss of these teeth. In some extreme cases dental decay on baby teeth can even cause stunted development of the adult teeth.
A risk that’s especially common in small children is what’s known as “baby bottle decay.” When parents give their children a bottle filled with juice or other sugary liquid and leave it in a crib or playpen, the babies will suck on it over time, filling their mouths with sugar for minutes or even hours. This is especially common when parents use a bottle in place of a pacifier. While sugary drinks are the greatest culprits, even breast milk or formula can lead to decay.
Because of these risks, it’s important to protect your child’s teeth by helping him or her brush from the time that that first tooth comes through the gums. It is important to brush well, not hard. Gentle circles along the teeth, all the way up to the gum line, is the most effective technique. Our hygienist will be happy to demonstrate this at your visit. Most convenience stores sell small toothbrushes with the baby supplies that will fit easily into your small child’s mouth. Better yet, if you come into the office, we’ll be happy to send you home with one free of charge!
Your child’s first dental visit
While brushing your child’s teeth is a good first step, it’s no replacement for an appointment with the dentist. When baby teeth decay, the damage can interfere with your child’s chewing, speech development and the future placement of permanent teeth. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend taking your child to the dentist within the first year.
During the first trip to the dental office, the hygienist will examine your child’s teeth and give you tips on how to appropriately continue that care at each developmental stage. Dr. Zufall will look at your child’s teeth with his mirrors, letting him or her get used to having dentist look inside their mouth with no discomfort at all. We focus on making this visit as fun and positive as possible; we want them to have positive dental experiences for a lifetime and this starts at visit number one!
At our dental office, we encourage you to bring your child along with you to your own appointments starting at a young age. Seeing mommy or daddy have a good experience at the office will show your child that it a trip to see the dentist isn’t a thing to be feared. We’ll let him or her sit in the chair, look at the equipment and even pick a special prize from the office treasure chest. Our staff strongly believe that familiarizing your child with the dental office at an early age will make him or her more comfortable during solo appointments in the future and help protect that smile you love for years to come.
If you want to hear more from Dr. Z, watch the video below:
As soon as your child gets that first tooth, he or she can be at risk for developing cavities. Even though these “baby teeth” aren’t permanent, it’s still important to make sure that they’re taken care of. Food, drinks and even toys can contain bacteria that can cause decay and lead to premature loss of these teeth. In some extreme cases dental decay on baby teeth can even cause stunted development of the adult teeth.
A risk that’s especially common in small children is what’s known as “baby bottle decay.” When parents give their children a bottle filled with juice or other sugary liquid and leave it in a crib or playpen, the babies will suck on it over time, filling their mouths with sugar for minutes or even hours. This is especially common when parents use a bottle in place of a pacifier. While sugary drinks are the greatest culprits, even breast milk or formula can lead to decay.
Because of these risks, it’s important to protect your child’s teeth by helping him or her brush from the time that that first tooth comes through the gums. It is important to brush well, not hard. Gentle circles along the teeth, all the way up to the gum line, is the most effective technique. Our hygienist will be happy to demonstrate this at your visit. Most convenience stores sell small toothbrushes with the baby supplies that will fit easily into your small child’s mouth. Better yet, if you come into the office, we’ll be happy to send you home with one free of charge!
Your child’s first dental visit
While brushing your child’s teeth is a good first step, it’s no replacement for an appointment with the dentist. When baby teeth decay, the damage can interfere with your child’s chewing, speech development and the future placement of permanent teeth. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend taking your child to the dentist within the first year.
During the first trip to the dental office, the hygienist will examine your child’s teeth and give you tips on how to appropriately continue that care at each developmental stage. Dr. Zufall will look at your child’s teeth with his mirrors, letting him or her get used to having dentist look inside their mouth with no discomfort at all. We focus on making this visit as fun and positive as possible; we want them to have positive dental experiences for a lifetime and this starts at visit number one!
At our dental office, we encourage you to bring your child along with you to your own appointments starting at a young age. Seeing mommy or daddy have a good experience at the office will show your child that it a trip to see the dentist isn’t a thing to be feared. We’ll let him or her sit in the chair, look at the equipment and even pick a special prize from the office treasure chest. Our staff strongly believe that familiarizing your child with the dental office at an early age will make him or her more comfortable during solo appointments in the future and help protect that smile you love for years to come.
If you want to hear more from Dr. Z, watch the video below: