Frequently Asked Questions

When will my child get his/her first teeth?
When should a child have his/her first dental appointment?
How can I help prevent my child from getting cavities?
Are baby teeth important?
When and how do you brush baby teeth?
Is flossing important? How do you floss children’s teeth?
When do children lose their teeth?
What is baby bottle decay?
Do foods affect teeth?
Will thumb or pacifier sucking affect my child's teeth?
If my child gets sealants, does that mean she won't get cavities?
Are x-rays for my child important? Are they safe?
Are silver fillings safe for my child?
When should my child get braces?

When will my child get his/her first teeth?

In general, children get their first teeth around 6-8 months of age; however, some get them earlier and some later.

When should a child have his/her first dental appointment?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children visit the dentist by their first birthday. This will allow the dentist to diagnose any special oral conditions early and to create a positive first visit. Before bringing your child to the dentist, do inform your child of the visit; however, there is no need to go into depth about the visit. The dentist and staff are trained to explain dental procedures in children's terms so as to explain what will be done in a pleasant and non-frightening manner.

How can I help prevent my child from getting cavities?

Good oral hygiene removes bacteria and the left over food particles that combine to create cavities. For infants, use a wet gauze or clean washcloth to wipe the plaque from teeth and gums. Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water. For older children, brush their teeth at least twice a day. Also, watch the number of snacks containing sugar that you give your children.

The America Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends six month visits to the dentist beginning at your child’s first birthday. Routine visits will start your child on a lifetime of good dental health.

Your dentist may recommend protective sealants or home fluoride treatments for your child. A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth (molars/premolars), where four out of five cavities in children are found. The sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque and acid, and protects decay-prone areas of teeth.

Are baby teeth important?

It is very important to maintain healthy primary (baby) teeth because cavities that are not taken care of often lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth are important for:

Proper chewing and eating.
Providing space for permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position.
Permitting normal development of jaw bones and muscles. Primary teeth also affect the development of speech. Children usually have their primary teeth until anywhere from 10-13 years old.

When and how do you brush baby teeth?

Begin daily brushing as soon as the child’s first tooth erupts. Start by using a soft cloth and water-no toothpaste-until 1 year of age. From ages 1-3, use a soft toothbrush and a very small amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste. Parents will need to brush their young child's teeth. A pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste can be used after the child is old enough to not swallow it. By ages 4 or 5, children should be able to brush their own teeth twice a day with adult supervision to make sure they are doing a thorough job.

Proper brushing removes plaque from the inner, outer and chewing surfaces. When teaching children to brush, place toothbrush at a 45 degree angle; start along the gum line with a soft bristle brush in a gentle circular motion. Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower. Repeat the same method on the inside surfaces and chewing surfaces of all the teeth. Finish by brushing the tongue to help freshen breath and remove bacteria.

Is flossing important? How do you floss children’s teeth?

Flossing removes plaque between the teeth where a toothbrush can not reach. Flossing should begin where any two teeth touch. You may wish to floss your child’s teeth until he/she can do it alone. Use about 18 inches of floss, winding most of it around the middle fingers of both hands. Hold the floss lightly between the thumbs and forefingers. Use a gentle back and forth motion to guide the floss between the teeth. Curve the floss into a C-shape and slide it into the space between the gum and tooth until you feel resistance. Gently scrape the floss against the side of the tooth and repeat this procedure on each tooth.

When do children lose their teeth?

Children often start losing their front “baby” teeth around the age of 6 or 7 though some children may be slightly younger or older when this happens. The back “baby” teeth usually are not replaced with adult teeth until the ages of 10-13.

What is baby bottle decay?

One serious form of decay among infants and young children is baby bottle tooth decay. This condition is caused by frequent and long exposures of teeth to liquids that contain sugar. Among these liquids are milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks.

Putting a baby to bed for a nap or at night with a bottle filled with anything other than water can cause serious and rapid tooth decay. Sweet liquid pools around the child’s teeth giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attach to tooth enamel. If you must give the baby a bottle as a comforter at bedtime, it should contain only water. If your child won’t fall asleep without the bottle and his usual beverage, gradually dilute the bottle’s contents with water over a period of weeks.

Be careful of sugary liquids provided to children in “sippy” cups. This can also cause sugary liquids to pool around the child’s teeth producing acid that harms the tooth.

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Do foods affect teeth?

Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, teeth, bones and soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation. The more frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance for tooth decays. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, hard candy and breath mints stay in the mouth a long time, which cause longer acid attacks on tooth enamel. If your child must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt or low-fat cheeses which are healthier and better for children’s teeth.

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Will thumb or pacifier sucking affect my child's teeth?

Thumb or a pacifier sucking over a long period of time may result in crowded, crooked teeth with a need for braces in adolescence. If your child has a thumb or pacifier sucking problem it is important to control it as soon as possible.

What are sealants? If my child gets sealants, does that mean she won't get cavities?

A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth (molars/premolars), where four out of five cavities in children are found. The sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque and acid and helps protect decay-prone areas of teeth. Sealants can help prevent decay, but they are only part of the solution. Even with sealants, children must continue to properly brush, floss and eat a healthy diet to keep cavities away.

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Are x-rays for my child important? Are they safe?

Radiographs (x-rays) are a vital and necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain dental conditions could be overlooked. X-rays may be needed to survey erupting teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate the results of an injury or explore potential orthodontic treatment.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children receive x-rays and examinations every six months. Dentists are particularly careful to minimize exposure to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental x-ray examination is extremely small. Today’s equipment filters out unnecessary x-rays and restricts the x-ray beam to the area of interest. High speed film and proper shielding assure that your child incurs a minimal amount of radiation exposure.

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Are silver fillings safe for my child?

Both silver fillings and composite (white) fillings are safe for your child. Because the white fillings can also restore a more natural cosmetic appearance, some parents choose composite fillings for their child although they are generally more expensive than silver fillings.

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When should my child get braces?

Your children's dentist can help determine when a child should be referred to an orthodontist in order to correct teeth alignment. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends children see an orthodontist for a simple, initial exam by age 7 in order to determine if, and when, treatment should begin. Typically, orthodontics treatment begins after 10 years of age, and more commonly after age 13, when the permanent teeth are in and growth of the jaw is complete.