They are only baby teeth, right? We don’t need to be too concerned, since they are just going to fall out anyway, right? WRONG!!!
Although baby teeth will eventually fall out, it is just as important to take care of them as it is to care for the new adult teeth when they erupt. Not only do the baby teeth play a role in esthetics, chewing, and talking, but also space maintenance. Baby teeth hold and preserve the space for the permanent teeth, helping the jaws to form and shape into their adult size.
So how can we best care for the baby teeth?
Most babies start to erupt the first tooth around 6 months of age. This is the time to begin to brush the teeth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists has just recently changed the recommendation on toothpaste to be used. It used to be recommended to use toothpaste without fluoride until the child was capable of spitting out all the toothpaste. We now want the teeth to be brushed with fluoridated toothpaste at all ages, regardless if they have developed their spitting technique. At this early age, only use a smear of paste on the brush. The easiest brush to use on infants is the small finger brushes that slip onto the index finger. All teeth should be brushed twice a day, after breakfast and before bed. By age 1, switch that finger brush over to a toddler size toothbrush with still only a smear of toothpaste. This is also the time to schedule your first visit with the dentist for an exam and fluoride varnish. It is definitely best to find a dental home and work on prevention early. This also allows the child to become familiar with other people working in their mouths.
At approximately age 3, the child should have all baby teeth present and the teeth will begin to tighten the spaces in between them. This is going to start the need for flossing every night, before that bedtime brushing.
Around age 6, the first tooth loosens as the new teeth are erupting. Now this is just an average. I have seen this occur as early as age 4 and as late as age 8. Also at this time the first set of permanent molars are erupting back behind the last baby molars. Make sure to reach the toothbrush all the way back to be able to keep those pits in the teeth clean until they are erupted far enough for the dentist to place sealants on the permanent molars. Also this is the time to start to introduce a mouthwash such a Smart Mouth to keep the mouth healthy. This rinse can be used twice a day after brushing. I also recommend to use a Sonicare toothbrush for the kids starting at this age as they move into the mixed dentition of baby and permanent teeth .
The last piece of advice I will leave you with is to stay away from the fruit snacks and juice. This is a topic I will cover in a separate article, but the short and sweet of it is they offer no benefit to children and only wreak havoc on their teeth.
Don’t forget to get your school dental exams completed for K, 2nd, 6th graders. Contact our office if it is time to come in!
Until next time….Keep on Smiling!!!