Cavity and Early Dental Care
A cavity is a hole that gets bigger and deeper over time leading to destruction of your baby’s tooth. Untreated cavities can lead to serious general health problems and significant pain, interference with eating, overuse of emergency rooms, and lost school time.Â
Early dental visit is important to prevent cavities and  for your baby to start feeling comfortable with the dentist and the dental office. First dental visit usually includes exam, cleaning, and flouride treatment. After that, your baby should see the dentist every 6 months. More frequent visits might be needed to keep an eye on developing problmes.Â
YOUR BABY'S FIRST TOOTH
You may notice your baby’s first tooth to erupte between the age of six to eight months old. Usually, the two bottom front teeth are the first to erupt in the mouth followed by the eruption of four upper front teeth. At 2-2 1/2 years old, your child should have all of her/his 20 baby teeth. Baby teeth are important for eating and getting proper nutrition, for the structure of the face, and for holding space for the adult teeth to come in properly. For this reason it is important to maintain a healthy diet and daily oral hygiene.
TEETHING
Often, teething can lead to mild discomfort in the area of erupting baby teeth. Symptoms may include gum irritation, drooling, and irritability. You may relieve some of these symptoms by massaging your baby’s gum with a clean finger, wet gauze or the back of a cold spoon. Teething ring are also a great way of soothing your baby’s gum. Avoid over-the-counter teething gels due to potential toxicity of these products in infants.
BABY BOTTLE TOOTH DECAY
Baby bottle tooth decay or “bottle rot” can be minimized or prevented by not allowing your baby to bottle or breastfeed while sleeping. If your baby sleeps better by eating, try using a pacifier or bottle filled with water. If you’ve noticed any signs of tooth decay in your child, schedule an appointment to see us today!
The most common sign of this type of decay is the presence of small white spots on the surface of your child’s teeth or along the gum line. Severe signs include brown or black spots on the teeth.
General Diet & Pediatric Dental Care
Encourage a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in sugar. When bacteria, which is normally found in the mouth, comes in contact with sugars and starches, they produce an acid that is capable of dissolving the enamel on the teeth and starting decay. Foods that help keep teeth clean and healthy includes fruites and vegitables, proteins such as chicken, turkey, and white fish and calcium-rich products such as yogurt, skim milk and cheese.
SOME FOODS MAKE TEETH MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CAVITIES AND SHOULD BE LIMITED OR AVOIDED, IF POSSIBLE.
Sugary drinks and even regular milk, especially chocolate milk, contains large amount of sugar and should be consumed moderately.
Chewy or sticky foods like hard or gummy candies, caramel, and chewy granola can stick to teeth, and if frequently eaten whithout brushing can cause cavities.
Desserts such as cookies, cakes, icecream, and other sweets should be eaten in moderation. If possible, give sweet treats directly after a meal instead of as a snack, since more slaiva is present in the mouth after a meal which can help clear away the sugar particles. Brushing your teeth after eating sweets is teh best way to ensure that the sugar does not remain on teeth and cause cavities.
Acidic foods and drinks such as citrus fruites and tomatoes can wear away tooth enamel if consumed too frequently. Consuming acidic foods and drinks should be with other foods as part of a meal to minmize the acid and protect the teeth.