PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY FAQ

Primary teeth start developing around 16-20 weeks of pregnancy and typically appear between 6-8 months old. By age 3, children usually have a full set of 20 primary teeth. Teeth generally emerge in this order: lower central incisors (6-10 months), upper central incisors (8-12 months), upper and lower lateral incisors (9-16 months), canines and first molars (13-23 months), and second molars before age 3.

Maintaining oral health is crucial. Brush your child’s teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled brush and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Start flossing when teeth touch, offer a balanced diet with minimal sugary snacks, and set a good example by practicing good oral hygiene yourself. Regular dental checkups help prevent issues and ensure healthy development.

It's recommended that your baby have their first dental visit about six months after the first tooth appears or by the child’s first birthday. Tooth decay can start as soon as the first tooth erupts and we can guide you on proper brushing and flossing techniques and help establish a daily oral care routine. 

Baby bottle tooth decay can be prevented with proper care. Follow these steps to keep your child's smile healthy:

• Avoid saliva exchange to reduce bacteria transmission; clean pacifiers and toys with water and use a clean spoon for each person.

• Clean gums after each feeding with a washcloth and brush emerging teeth with an appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste. Use fluoride-free toothpaste for children under two, and a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste once they can spit it out.

• Only fill bottles and sippy cups with water, breast milk, or formula. Avoid sugary drinks and dipping pacifiers in sweet liquids. Encourage the use of a regular cup by twelve months.

• Promote healthy eating by limiting sugary snacks and ensure children don't take sugary liquids to bed; use water instead.

• Clean your child's teeth until they are seven years old, and consult the pediatric dentist about your child's fluoride levels.

Thumb sucking and pacifiers are natural for infants, offering comfort and security. Most children stop using them by age four, but thumb sucking can persist longer, risking dental issues if continued past age five. Risks can include:

• Jaw Misalignment: Pacifiers can disrupt jaw alignment over time.

• Tooth Decay: Dipping pacifiers in sugary substances can lead to cavities.

• Narrowed Palate: Prolonged sucking can narrow the roof of the mouth.

• Slanted Teeth: Continued use may cause teeth to slant or protrude.

• Mouth Sores: Aggressive sucking can lead to sores or ulcers.

Sippy cups help transition toddlers from bottles to regular cups, but extended use can lead to tooth decay. Often used well into toddlerhood, these cups may contribute to cavities if filled with sugary liquids. Follow these guidelines for sippy cup use:

• Introduce sippy cups when the child can grasp them and switch to an adult cup by around one year.

• Avoid filling them with sugary drinks; opt for water instead.

• Limit continuous sipping and don't let the child take the cup to bed unless it’s water.

• Rinse the cup regularly and ensure sugary liquids are consumed during mealtime.

To protect your baby’s teeth and gums, begin brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste as soon as the first tooth appears. Floss between adjacent teeth early to prevent cavities. Choose orthodontically correct pacifiers and avoid sugary liquids. Transition from sippy cups to regular drinking glasses after your baby’s first birthday to minimize decay. Schedule a pediatric dentist visit by age one for a thorough examination and care guidance. Additionally, wipe your baby’s gums with a damp cloth after feedings to reduce bacteria.

Support your child’s oral health by maintaining a balanced diet and limiting sugary snacks. Use orthodontically correct pacifiers if needed, and avoid transferring bacteria by sharing utensils or cleaning pacifiers with your mouth. Replace sippy cups with regular cups between twelve and fourteen months, and ensure regular brushing with CDA-approved toothpaste. Assist with brushing until your child is seven and start flossing when adjacent teeth touch. Finally, monitor fluoride intake to prevent both decay and fluorosis, adjusting as needed with your pediatric dentist’s help.

Cavities develop when sugary foods and carbohydrates create plaque on your child’s teeth. Bacteria in the plaque produce acids that weaken tooth enamel and cause decay. To prevent cavities, ensure your child brushes and flosses twice daily, watch out for signs like tooth sensitivity or pain, and visit the dentist every six months. Prevent cavities by:

• Limiting sugary snacks and drinks.

• Avoiding constant sipping from sippy cups, which can lead to “baby bottle tooth decay.”

• Choosing natural snacks and drinks, and encouraging water intake.

• Rinsing pacifiers with water, not your mouth.

• Brushing and flossing your child’s teeth until they’re around seven.

• Using fluoride as recommended by the dentist.

Tooth decay is rising among preschoolers, leading to pain, tooth loss, and childhood periodontal disease. Dental sealants are crucial for preventing cavities and protecting molars, which are prone to decay due to their hard-to-clean nooks and crannies.

How Sealants Protect Teeth: Sealants act as a barrier against bacteria and acids, covering the chewing surfaces of molars and sometimes bicuspids. This helps prevent cavities in areas that are difficult to clean with a toothbrush.

Sealant Application: The process is quick and painless. The dentist cleans and prepares the teeth, applies a liquid plastic sealant, and then hardens it with a special light. Sealants are typically applied to emerging molars and can last until the primary teeth are lost or need replacing.

Maintenance: Sealants should be checked at regular dental visits. If a sealant starts to wear off, it can lead to decay if not promptly replaced.

If your child is grinding their teeth, known as bruxism, it’s essential to address it promptly. Bruxism can cause headaches, tooth damage, and jaw pain. Look for signs like loud grinding noises at night, frequent headaches, or sensitive teeth. Bruxism can stem from various factors such as misaligned teeth, stress, or medication side effects. 

To address teeth grinding, schedule a visit with us. In the meantime, managing stress and ensuring your child maintains good oral hygiene can help mitigate damage. If bruxism is persistent or severe, professional intervention is crucial to protect your child’s dental health.

Your child can begin early orthodontic treatment in three stages:

Early Treatment (Ages 2-6): Ideal for addressing issues like improper bites, early loss of baby teeth, and harmful habits such as thumb sucking. Early treatment helps guide jaw growth and create space for adult teeth.

Middle Dentition (Ages 6-12): Focuses on realigning jaws, correcting crossbites, and starting to straighten permanent teeth. This stage is optimal for addressing severe malocclusions as the child's tissues are still pliable.

Adolescent Dentition (Ages 13+): Primarily involves straightening permanent teeth and enhancing smile aesthetics, typically using braces. Post-treatment, a retainer may be needed to maintain results.

A balanced diet is crucial for your child's oral health. Nutritious foods support strong teeth and gums, while sugary snacks can lead to tooth decay.

Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates attract bacteria that produce acids, eroding tooth enamel and leading to decay. To protect your child's teeth, opt for healthier snacks like carrot sticks and yogurt, limit sugary treats, and ensure they drink water with meals to rinse away food particles.

Mouth guards are essential for children involved in sports or who grind their teeth at night. They protect teeth and oral tissues from injury, reducing risks like concussions, fractures, and soft tissue damage. They're recommended for all recreational and sports activities. While store-bought options are inexpensive and widely available, customized mouth guards from a dentist offer the best fit and protection. There are three types of mouth guards:

• Stock Mouth Guards: Affordable and ready to use but offer minimal protection and comfort.

• Boil and Bite Mouth Guards: Moldable for a better fit and more protection, though they require some preparation.

• Customized Mouth Guards: Made by a dentist for the best fit, comfort, and protection, though they are more expensive.

Choose a mouth guard based on your child’s sport, frequency of play, and budget for optimal safety and comfort.

Dental appliances aren't just for teens—they're vital for young children too. They can prevent injuries and minimize future treatments. Common pediatric dental appliances are:

• Mouth Guards: Essential for sports and grinding. Custom or boil-and-bite options are available.

• Space Maintainers: Keep gaps open for permanent teeth when primary teeth are lost early. Choose from fixed or removable options.

• Thumb Sucking Appliances: Help stop thumb sucking with devices like the palatal crib, preventing oral complications.

• Expansion Appliances: Correct overbites and crossbites by widening the arch. Custom-made for effective results.

• Bionator: Aligns the jaw and teeth by positioning the lower jaw forward, reducing the need for extensive orthodontics.

Tobacco use is a leading cause of death but also one of the most preventable. It can lead to oral cancer, stained teeth, and an increased risk of periodontal disease. Most adult smokers began before age 19. Avoiding smoking during teenage years greatly reduces the likelihood of starting. It's crucial for parents to discourage tobacco use early on.

Smokeless tobacco isn’t a safer alternative. It delivers higher concentrations of harmful chemicals and is more addictive. One use of smokeless tobacco can be as potent as 60 cigarettes and causes dangerous pre-cancerous lesions. Signs of oral cancer include changes in teeth alignment, jaw movement difficulties, non-healing mouth sores, numbness, and red or white spots on the mouth. Early detection is key to effective treatment and avoiding severe procedures.

To prevent tobacco use, talk openly with your child about its dangers, set a positive example by avoiding tobacco yourself, and monitor their habits. Dental screenings can help detect tobacco use if needed.

Tongue piercings are popular among teens, but they can have serious health risks. These piercings can lead to infections, nerve damage, and dental issues. Unlicensed piercing parlours may spread diseases like hepatitis, while even licensed ones can cause severe complications such as chronic pain, cracked teeth, and gum recession.

Post-piercing problems often include pain, swelling, and increased saliva production. Long-term issues can involve damage to teeth and gums, as well as risk of the piercing being accidentally torn out.

Pulp therapy, also known as root canal treatment, pulpotomy, or pulpectomy, is a dental procedure used to treat damaged or infected pulp inside a tooth. This therapy aims to save and restore both baby and permanent teeth, ensuring proper chewing, speech, and alignment. Signs of pulp issues include:

• Persistent pain

• Sensitivity to temperature

• Swelling or redness around the tooth

• Looseness of the tooth

Pulp therapy is recommended when a tooth’s pulp is inflamed or infected, often due to decay or injury. It helps prevent the complications of premature tooth loss, such as alignment issues and space problems for emerging permanent teeth. The procedure involves removing the damaged pulp, disinfecting the tooth, and filling it with a biocompatible material. A crown is typically placed to protect and strengthen the tooth.

Choosing the right toothpaste for your child is crucial for their oral health. Here's what to look for:

• Fluoride Content: Opt for CDA-approved toothpaste with fluoride to strengthen enamel. For children under two, use fluoride-free toothpaste.

• Avoid Harsh Ingredients: Avoid adult toothpaste with strong abrasives or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which can irritate sensitive mouths.

• Age-Appropriate Options: Use a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste for children aged 3 and up, and ensure they spit out excess paste.