Nobody
Ever Told Me...
- That during pregnancy women need frequent, preventive
dental appointments to make sure they have no gum disease that may affect
the fetus.
- That if you start your baby’s mouth care early, and practice
dental prevention, you will save a lot of money in the long run.
- That within a few days of a baby’s birth,
parents need to clean the baby’s mouth, cheeks, and gums after
feedings with a soft, damp piece
of gauze or cloth. This is true for children of both nursing and
non-nursing moms.
- That monitoring the health of your child’s
teeth and gums is outside the pediatrician’s area of expertise. Dental
diagnosis and treatment requires a general dentist adept at working
with children. For
children who are behavior problems, there are pediatric dental specialists.
- That between six and twelve months, when the baby’s first tooth
comes in is the ideal time for your first dental visit with your baby
- That not all bottled water contains fluoride. If you are
relying of fluoride to supplement your child’s dental needs, don’t
guess. Ask
your dentist instead.
- That even baby teeth may need orthodontic
treatment. That’s
why it is so important to take your child to the dentist for regular
check-ups. Habits like thumb sucking, and the improper use of pacifiers
can cause significant facial deformities in the long-term. Nail biting
is a sign of anxiety, and becomes a long term habit that, when continued
into
adulthood results in broken teeth and a collapsed bite.
- That if an accident causes a permanent tooth to chip or fall out,
you may be able to save the tooth. Bring the tooth immediately (whole
or in pieces) to the dentist. Be careful not to touch the root. If
you can put it in a container or zip lock bag, soaking in milk, it would
be beneficial.
- That begin flossing your child’s teeth
at an early age, as soon as he or she gets a few baby teeth in. This
will get your child used to the process.
- That if necessary, your child’s jaw structure
can be altered by orthodontics. This is best done when a ‘window
of opportunity’ exists for
changing facial structure. We will make the appropriate referrals for you.
- That the older a person is, the more difficult it will be to
remove wisdom teeth and the longer they will take to heal.
- That your child’s toothbrush needs to
be replaced every one to two months. This is especially important
after an illness.
- That to prevent baby bottle tooth decay, don’t put baby to bed
with milk or juice in a bottle
- That parents have the option of having a qualified pediatric
anesthesiologist present if a child needs to be sedated in order to
do necessary dental work.
- That when permanent molars emerge, have the dentist or
hygienist check to see if sealants or some type of coverage will be
necessary to help prevent decay.
- That children can get gum disease at
an early age. This is
rare, but it happens. It is called juvenile periodontitis.
- That even inherited physical appearances such as buck teeth can
sometimes be corrected by braces.
- That children need only a small pea-sized
amount of toothpaste on their toothbrushes. Don’t let the
meat toothpaste because they may ingest too much fluoride.
- That parents should start early putting their fingers in the
baby’s mouth to clean it and to get the baby used to he feeling
of having the teeth wiped and brushed.
- That remember that your child’s permanent
teeth will be performing in his or her mouth for 70 years or more! The
fewer problems they have with decay early on, the stronger these
teeth will be later.
Excerpted with the author's permission from "I Hate Dentists! The Feel-Good
Guide to Going to the Dentist" We invite you to stop in with your child,
and tour our office. We will be happy to give you a copy of "From Womb
to Wisdom", a guide about caring for your children's teeth. We strongly
recommend that such an introductory visit occur at around age 12 months. Please
call ahead to make sure we are available for your tour.
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