Oral Care For Infants & Kids

INFANTS

While most babies don't start getting teeth until they are six months old, infant dental care is important from the very beginning. Our dentists in Balwyn recommend an initial visit before the child's first birthday to make sure teeth and gums are cared for and cleaned properly.

It is a good idea to get in the habit of cleaning your baby's gums soon after birth. Although there may be a little fussing at first, your infant will get used to having the mouth cleaned like other parts of the body. Many children grow to enjoy tooth brushing as part of their daily routine.

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During your baby’s first year, there are a few conditions to be aware of, including:

Teething
Between 3 and 9 months, your infant's baby teeth will begin to emerge (erupt) into the mouth. Teething may make your child irritable or fussy and may cause restlessness, drooling or loss of appetite. However, it has not been shown to cause any other childhood symptoms.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Baby bottle tooth decay — also called "early childhood dental caries" — is one of the most important issues in infant tooth care. This condition is caused by frequent exposure, over time, to sugary liquids, which can seriously damage a baby’s teeth and overall oral health.

Pacifier Use
Sucking is a normal part of development that is comforting to children well into their first years of life. In fact, sucking often brings comfort even after a child no longer needs to get nourishment from a breast or bottle. During a child's first few years, sucking habits probably won't damage his or her mouth. But frequent and long-term sucking can cause problems. This is especially true if the habit continues after baby teeth start to fall out.

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Thumbsucking
Thumbsucking is a natural  reflex for little ones — babies even do it in the womb. It's soothing, and many kids stop on their own around ages 2 to 4.

Thumbsucking is certainly nothing to worry about with infants, and might even help them fall asleep more quickly. Problems can arise when kids do a lot of active sucking, especially when their permanent teeth start coming in. Your  Tower Dental dentist can offer advice on how to monitor the situation.

TODDLERS

Teething is generally thought of as a part of babyhood, but teeth are still coming in for many toddlers. Some molars might not even come in until after they are 2 years old. You might find cool, refrigerated teething rings helpful — or you can check with your pediatrician about whether over-the-counter pain medications could be appropriate.

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Toddlers bodies are changing, but so are their temperaments. They're starting to have their own ideas about what they want to wear, eat, and do, which can make convincing them to brush tricky. As with all things, try to make tooth-brushing a fun activity to increase your level of success.

During the toddler years, you'll want to keep an eye on issues such as:

Tooth Brushing
Toddlers should brush twice a day with the help of an adult. They can use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste starting around 2 years old, when they can brush without swallowing. Special toothpaste and toothbrushes with their favorite characters and kid friendly flavors can help get them excited about brushing, too.

Toddler Cavities
This is a great time to start taking your toddler to the dentist regularly to check for cavities. Twice yearly is standard, and a pediatric dentist is a great option if there's one in your area, since they are pros with small children. Toddlers might even have cavities, and baby teeth do need fillings, just like permanent teeth.

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Nutrition
Toddlers can be picky eaters, but don't give up. Try serving vegetables lots of different ways, and offer milk with meals to help combat acids that can erode enamel. A diet low in processed sugar can help keep toddlers cavity free, and lots of fruits, veggies and water are good for everyone's oral health, including toddlers.

KIDS

As your child grows, continue to take good care of their baby teeth. While they do eventually fall out, baby teeth play an important role in helping your child bite and chew food, and speak clearly. Baby teeth also save space for the permanent teeth, and help guide them into place.

Underneath your kid's baby teeth, the roots and position of the adult teeth are growing into place. Research shows that children who develop cavities in their baby teeth are more likely to develop cavities as an adult, so be sure to keep in the habit of prioritizing regular dental checkups. It is important to keep your child's baby teeth clean, but once the permanent teeth start to come in you really need to make cleaning them a priority. These teeth will last your child a lifetime.

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During the kid years, you might have questions about:

Brushing & Flossing

You probably began using toothpaste to brush your child's teeth when they were around 2 years old, and started flossing once a day as soon as two teeth touched each other. But with an older kid, they probably want to do it themselves. It's great to give them a turn. Afterwards, you should check their work and brush their teeth a second time. Most children won't be able to brush their teeth well on their own until they are about 8 years old.

Your Child Has Loose Baby Teeth: What Should You Do?

When your child's baby teeth begin to loosen, it can be an uncertain time for them. Some children hate the idea of loose baby teeth and ask their parents to pull them out, while others may be frightened of losing them. Others may be excited to anticipate a visit from the tooth fairy. So, what should you do when your child's teeth begin to wiggle?

When Do Children Lose Their Baby Teeth?

The process of permanent teeth replacing baby teeth occurs over several years. Children begin to lose their baby teeth at about 6 years old. The first adult teeth that arrive are the molars, which erupt from the gums at the back of the mouth without replacing any baby teeth. At the same time, the roots of the baby teeth at the front of the mouth begin to weaken as the permanent teeth grow within the gum. Eventually, the tooth roots become so weak that the baby teeth fall out, leaving room for the new adult teeth to come in.

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As the Mayo Clinic explains, the first baby teeth to fall out are usually the two central bottom teeth at the front of the mouth, followed by the two central top teeth. Though most children lose their first baby teeth at age 6, some don't begin to lose their teeth until age 7.

What to Do When Your Child Has Loose Baby Teeth

The process of losing baby teeth is completely natural, so once you notice your child's baby teeth are loose and wiggly, let it happen. If the teeth are at the front of the mouth and your child is around the age of 6 or 7, there's probably nothing to worry about.

It’s fine to let your child wiggle a loose tooth. When the tooth is ready to go, it should fall out easily and with little bleeding. If your child is desperate to lose the tooth and it just won't come out, the Australian Dental Association advises parents to fold a piece of clean tissue over the tooth and gently squeeze. The tooth should pop out right away.

However, if the tooth doesn't come out with a gentle squeeze, don't reach for string and stay away from doorknobs. According to the Mayo Clinic, losing a baby tooth too early can affect the position of the permanent teeth. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, a permanent tooth that's already erupted can shift into the empty space and become crooked.

Additionally, contact your dentist if any of the following situations occur:

• The loose tooth is causing serious pain to your child making brushing or even eating more difficult
• Excess plaque build-up around the tooth has caused the gums to become red, swollen. or inflamed
• The baby tooth used to be loose but has since become firm again
• You can already see the permanent tooth coming in from underneath yet the baby tooth doesn’t look like it is loose yet.

Oral Care After a Baby Tooth Falls Out

If your child's baby tooth comes out cleanly, you can usually just wrap it up in a tissue and put it in a safe place for the tooth fairy. However, if your child has excessive bleeding or a blood condition, we recommend moistening a tea bag or a piece of gauze and asking your child to bite down on it. Tell your child not to pick at the affected area of gum and avoid the spot when brushing for the next two days. In addition, give them soft foods to eat, or mash up their food with a fork.

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If the bleeding continues for more than two hours, contact your dentist.

Tips on Easing Your Child's Fears

As a parent, you may be excited that your child has arrived at the milestone of losing their first tooth, but for the child, it can sometimes be a scary experience. If your child is upset about a wiggly tooth or a gap where a tooth fell out, offer reassurance that nothing is wrong and that everyone loses their baby teeth. Remind your child that the tooth fairy loves baby teeth and gives out rewards for them. Additionally, if a tooth looks like it's about to come out, consider giving your child a small box and a tissue or a similar "tooth kit" to take to school to avoid losing the precious item. 

Losing baby teeth doesn't have to be scary. By following these tips, you can maintain smiles all around!

For More Information about Childrens Dental at Tower Dental or to Schedule a Consultation Call Us at (03) 9817 7144