10 Mini Guides for Optimum Pediatric Dental Care

Have you ever wondered why there are pediatric dentists? A regular dentist can take excellent care of your child’s mouth, but a pediatric dentist have spent their entire training and schooling focusing on all the unique needs of little people’s mouths, including thumb sucking, teething, fluorosis, and general oral hygiene, and more. When you have a child who’s afraid of the dentist, often times a pediatric dentist has been trained to sooth them, and offers a fun, inviting dental office just for your tot. In the spirit of these specialists, we wanted to offer up a guide on various dental issues that could affect your child from birth up to the beginning of teenage years.

Oral Thrush in Newborns

One of the things many new mothers worry about as they near their birthing due date is whether or not their child will develop thrush. Thrush is a fungus-based infection that manifests in white patches, often in the mouth or throat. In infants, typically the natural bacteria and germs found in the mother’s reproductive system gets on her child as it’s born. The reduced immune system of the newborn makes them especially susceptible. Regularly cleaning the infant’s mouth with a wet soft cloth can help remove any bacteria or fungus that could aid in the development of thrush.

If you or your dentist find white or milky patches that remind you of cottage cheese bits on your child’s tongue, inner cheek, or back of the throat, definitely see your child’s doctor. The fungus can be passed on to breast feeding mothers in the form of a very painful condition called mastitis in which the milk ducts get plugged and breasts get inflamed.

Either condition can be cured with antifungal medications in oral or topical form, but they require a prescription. (Source: Medicinenet.com)

Infant Dental Caries

Dental caries, commonly called cavities or tooth decay, can affect children at any age. A combination of how babies are fed and lack of oral care have created a trend in increase of dental caries on baby teeth. This includes teeth that have not yet erupted.

Tooth decay happens when unchecked bacteria overwhelms the mouth with plaque. The acidic environment crated by this process as well as the destructive nature of plaque break down the enamel of the teeth. This can result in holes in the tooth, tooth loss, and other more serious oral conditions.

Teething children can put up quite the fight, but it’s very important to clean their mouths well, especially as more and more teeth erupt. As soon as a tooth comes up through the gums, they are at risk of dental caries. According to the American Dental Association, other things that can be done to reduce the risk of dental caries include not allowing the child to sleep with a bottle full of milk, to reduce sugary drinks (especially during nap time), and to make sure to schedule your child’s first dental visit as soon as you start seeing teeth in their mouths. Be sure to use a toothbrush and these actions will lay the foundation or a lifetime of healthy, cavity-free teeth.

Fluorosis

Dentists, dental organizations, and federal entities agree that fluoride intake is essential to dental care for all ages due to the mineral’s ability to strengthen tooth enamel and defend against tooth decay. This knowledge has led to the fluoridation of most U.S. water sources. Fluoride is also in most toothpastes and mouth rinses on the market.

Unfortunately, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Fluorosis occurs when the human body is flooded with fluoride from multiple sources. This causes discoloration of the teeth. In children, this can occur before teeth even erupt, causing a delay in their emergence and white, yellow, brown or black splotches on the surfaces of the teeth. In extreme cases, the tooth can also be disfigured. Often times, a dentist will notice it before a child or parent will because it may be more noticeable on the molars.

Fluorosis is not reversible but the smile can be restored with enamel micro abrasion, covered with veneers, or strengthened with a dental crown.

Making Oral Care Fun

One of the biggest challenges parents discuss is convincing their child to properly care for their teeth. Young children need to brush and floss their teeth as much as adults do, especially since modern snack foods are processed and make them especially at risk to tooth decay. But how do you convince a toddler that wants to do it themselves to do a good job? Here are some suggestions from Colgate’s Oral Care Center:

• Let them choose their own toothbrush or toothpaste
• Use a star or sticker chart with rewards for a job well done.
• Use music in the bathroom and have a tooth brushing dance-off.

Also check out our post “Activities to make oral care fun for Children” for a bunch more resources and suggestions.

First Dental Visit and Dentist Anxiety

The American Dental Association recommends that a child has their first dental visit as soon as the first tooth erupts from the gums and then every six months to maintain the best oral care. If these suggestions are followed, dental anxiety will be greatly reduced. If you take your child to their first dental visit a little later in life, there is a possibility that dental fear will be increased. Children will often pick upon their parent’s fear of the dentist and resist going as well.

Here are some tips for making your child’s dental experience a smooth one:

• Discuss how important dental care is to your child in kid-friendly terms and tone. Don’t mention words that can create fear like hurt or pain, and never tell them about a bad experience.
• Meet the dentist before the appointment or go on a dental office tour.
• Let the dentist do his or her job. A good pediatric dentist will know how to ease your child’s fears.
• DON’T bribe your child to go to his or her appointment. (Source: com)

Nutrition for a Healthy Mouth

Modern diets include a lot of processed foods that can make for bad oral hygiene and health. Simple sugars and carbohydrates can lead to tooth decay. Malnutrition and dehydration can also reduce the strength and defense of the teeth and oral tissues. A clean, healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and calcium-filled foods like dairy, almonds, and certain vegetables can all aid in a healthier mouth. Serve your child snacks that fall into these categories, and be sure they are getting the recommended daily servings of dairy products.

Losing the Baby Teeth

The twenty teeth that make up the primary dentition, or baby teeth, start falling out at around age 6. It’s important to take note of loose teeth and make sure they come out without any complications. Oral hygiene should remain constant throughout this process to make sure permanent teeth come up healthy and strong. If a baby tooth isn’t coming out correctly, it’s important to see a dentist right away.

When a tooth falls out, reducing risk of infection is important. Stop any bleeding by having your child bite down on a folded paper towel or piece of gauze. Swishing with salt water can keep bacteria and infection away from the site until the gums heal.

Parents often become concerned if the permanent teeth come up behind the line of baby teeth, a condition called shark teeth. This can mean that orthodontic treatment may be needed later in life, but not always. The permanent teeth should move into place on their own once the primary tooth is out of the way. In some cases, a dentist may need to extract the baby tooth to do so. If you have any questions, always contact your child’s dentist for the best personalized treatment plan.

Sport or Trauma Tooth Loss

Your child runs down a field or collides with an opponent and it happens. A tooth is damaged or knocked out and their mouth is bleeding. Sport or trauma tooth loss is common in the middle years of childhood as children come to terms with their developing body and participate in contact sports.

The Colorado Orthopedic Institute recommends the following suggestions:

• Never re-implant a primary tooth. Doing so can disrupt the bud of the permanent tooth behind it.
• Keep the athlete calm. Many times the shock of the accident or seeing the tooth can cause the athlete to panic.
• Always pick a tooth up by the crown (chewing side), never the root. Doing so can damage the nerve.
• Attempt to rinse with water, milk, saliva, or saline (if the tooth is dirty)–again never touch the root.
• Re-implantation of the tooth by a dentist. This is considered to be the most important factor in determining successful outcomes for tooth avulsions.
• Re-implantation involves putting the tooth back in the socket, if possible. Dentists also agree that 30 seconds to 5 minutes is the optimal time for this to occur. The longer this takes, the higher the risk of cell death. Once the tooth is implanted, get to the dentist ASAP for further evaluation.
• Do not re-implant the tooth into its socket if it is dirty. This helps to prevent infection.
• Control bleeding. Avulsions are usually accompanied with facial or mouth trauma that may also have severe bleeding. Use light pressure and cold compresses to stop before re-implanting the tooth. Do not disrupt clot if formed in socket.
• Get to the dentist ASAP.

The best way to reduce the chance of a traumatic tooth loss is to prevent it. Insist your child wear a helmet with a mouth guard if possible. Another great option is either a store-bought boil and fit mouth guard, or a specially designed and created mouth guard through your dentist office.

Preparing for Orthodontic Procedures

If you’ve been regularly taking your child to the dentist from an early age, your dentist should be able to tell you how the mouth is developing and whether orthodontic treatment will be needed. Correcting the bite will help in tooth cleaning and proper chewing, as well as help with other problems like jaw alignment and overall health.

If the possibility of orthodontic treatment is there, it’s key that you discuss it with your child and prepare them for it. Getting a strict routine of oral hygiene is recommended if it’s not already in place because with braces or other orthodontic devices will require more time and commitment to clean. You can also use the suggestions above for dental anxiety leading up to the start of orthodontic treatment. In addition, since most orthodontic treatments start after age 8, you can encourage your child to communicate their fears so you can ease them. (Source: Boston Children’s Hospital.)