A toothbrush will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay. Any soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head, preferably one designed specifically for infants, should be used at least once a day at bedtime.

In order to prevent dental problems, your child should see a Children's dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday.

Primary, or “baby” teeth, are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt.

First, rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Give the child acetaminophen for any pain, rather than placing aspirin on the teeth or gums. Finally, see a dentist as soon as possible.

Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers when the permanent teeth arrive, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your Children's dentist.

Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bed-time bottle. Also, learn the proper way to brush and floss your child's teeth. Take your child to a Children's dentist regularly to have his/her teeth and gums checked. The first dental visit should be scheduled by your child's first birthday.

Fluoridated toothpaste should be introduced when your child has teeth. A smear of fluoridated toothpaste is recommended for children less than 2 years of age. A pea size amount of toothpaste is appropriate for children aged 2  through 5 years.

Parents should dispense the toothpaste onto a soft, age appropriate sized toothbrush and perform or assist with tooth brushing of per-school aged children.

To maximize the benefits of fluoride in the toothpaste, rinsing after brushing should be kept to a minimum or eliminated altogether.

Make sure your child has a balanced diet, including one serving each of: fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat fish and eggs. Limiting the servings of sugars and starches will also aid in protecting your child's teeth from decay. You can also ask your Children's dentist to help you select foods that protect your children's teeth.

Sealants work by filling in the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years.

Have your Children's dentist evaluate the fluoride level of your child's primary source of drinking water. If your child is not getting enough fluoride internally through water (especially if the fluoride level is deficient or if your child drinks bottled water without fluoride), then your Children's dentist may prescribe fluoride supplements.

Soft plastic mouth guards can be used to protect a child's teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sports related injuries. A custom-fitted mouth guard developed by a Children's dentist will protect your child from injuries to the teeth, face and even provide protection from severe injuries to the head.

The most important thing to do is to remain calm. Then find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to reinsert it in the socket. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child and the glass immediately to the Children's dentist.

There is very little risk in dental X-rays. Children's dentists are especially careful to limit the amount

of radiation to which children are exposed. Our office uses Digital Radiography.  This form of computerized radiography uses a standard dental x-ray generator as its radiation source.

An intra-oral sensor that is placed in the mouth collects the image.  The benefit of digital radiography is that it reduces radiation exposure 80-90% compared to traditional radiography which means less exposure and less risk.

Parents should take their children to the dentist regularly, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. Then, the dentist can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their children. These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.

Yes, it should be treated as soon as possible to avoid pain and infection.

Usually the two lower front teeth (central incisors) erupt at about six months of age, followed shortly by the two upper central incisors. During the next 18 to 24 months, the rest of the baby teeth appear, although not in orderly sequence from front to back. All of these 20 primary teeth should be present at two to three years of age.

Some children appear to be comforted during the normal eruption process by chewing on a teething biscuit, a piece of toast, or a frozen teething ring. Teething medications that can be rubbed on the gums to reduce the discomfort are available at your pharmacy.

Permanent teeth are normally yellower than primary teeth, but they appear even more so because you are comparing them with the lighter baby teeth still in the mouth.

Some children appear to be comforted during the normal eruption process by chewing on a teething biscuit, a piece of toast, or a frozen teething ring. Teething medications that can be rubbed on the gums to reduce the discomfort are available at your pharmacy.

Though dairy products are considered one of the four basic food groups and an important part of the diet, in one specific situation milk can be responsible for causing a type of rampant decay. This decay process happens when a child goes to sleep while breast-feeding and bottle-feeding. The milk is collected on the roof of the mouth and tongue, and the upper front teeth are bathed in it. During sleep, the flow of saliva is reduced and the natural self-cleansing action of the mouth is diminished. The sugar content of the stagnant collected milk is changed to acids which cause  decalcification (softening) of the enamel, resulting in extensive decay called “nursing caries”.

Usually there is no need for concern. The space can be expected to close in the next few years as the other  front teeth erupt. If there is a problem, your Children's dentist will recognize it.

Very likely, unless the cause can be determined and proper preventive and corrective steps are taken.

Even though these primary teeth are called “baby teeth”, some of them must serve until the child is at least twelve years old, sometimes longer. Neglect of the baby teeth can result in pain, infection of the gums and jaws, impairment of general health, and premature loss of teeth, which is a major cause of orthodontic problems. Also, cavities tend to form in teeth that are next to other teeth with unfilled cavities, because decay is really an infection and will spread if left untreated. It is unwise to leave active decay in the mouth. Decay on baby teeth can cause decay on permanent teeth. Unfortunately, most children with untreated decay on baby teeth will develop decay on permanent teeth.

You should start cleaning your baby's teeth as soon as the teeth come in, because harmful plaque begins to form as soon as teeth erupt.

Some children, and some adults, seem to do a more effective job of cleaning the teeth with the aid of an electric toothbrush. It is often a matter of patient preference, and the novelty of the electric toothbrush may even motivate your child to brush more frequently. The Children's dentist may suggest an electric toothbrush for some children.

A fluoridated toothpaste that is recognized by the American Dental Association as being effective in reducing tooth decay should be used. Equally as important as the toothpaste is the thoroughness with which the plaque is removed by brushing and flossing.

Decay is caused by dental plaque, a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone's teeth. When sugar is eaten, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. After repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down, and a cavity (hole) is formed.  Fluoride is nature's naturally occurring mineral that prevents tooth decay.

Fluoride has been shown to dramatically decrease a person's chances of getting cavities by making teeth stronger. Fluoride in the drinking water is the best and easiest way to get it. Most major cities have fluoride in the drinking water system. In communities where the water district does not fluoridate the water, fluoride supplements should be given to your child until their twelve year molars are fully erupted (approximately age 12 years). Your Children's dentist or Children'sian can help determine if your child needs fluoride supplements or not.

Thumb sucking is perfectly normal for infants; most children stop by age two. If your child does not stop thumb sucking, discourage it by age four. Prolonged thumb sucking can create crowded, crooked teeth and bite problems. Your Children's dentist will be glad to suggest ways to address a prolonged thumb sucking habit.

A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars), where decay occurs most often. This sealant acts as a barrier, protecting the decay prone areas of the back teeth from plaque and acid.