Forms & Information

Even though the baby teeth have not erupted, AAPD says infants still need fluoride to help developing teeth grow strong. Your pediatric dentist will determine your child’s fluoride needs during the initial consultation. Few people realize that babies have more teeth than adults. Even though the teeth are still invisible, two full sets are developing under the gums.

Children older than 6 months need a fluoride supplement if their drinking water does not contain the ideal amount of fluoride. Fluoride supplements taken by infants have been shown to reduce tooth decay by as much as 50%. Your pediatric dentist will help determine whether your child needs a fluoride supplement and if so, will give the proper prescription for your child.

Fluoride not only helps prevent tooth decay, but also can cure cavities in their early stages. A healed cavity is stronger than the original tooth surface.

Food does not cause tooth decay, eating does. Children’s dental health depends less on what they eat and more on how often they eat it. Cooked starches (fermentable carbohydrates) can lead to cavities just as sugars can. In fact, such cooked starches as breads, crackers, pasta, pretzels, and potato chips frequently take longer to clear the mouth than sugars. So the decay risk may last even longer. Snacks, served no more than three or four times a day, should contribute to the overall nutrition and health of the child. Some healthy snacks are: cheese, vegetables, yogurt, peanut butter and chocolate milk.

A child who licks a piece of hard candy every few minutes to make it last longer or slowly sips a sugared drink while studying is flirting with a high risk of tooth decay. Such long-lasting snacks create an acid attack on teeth for the entire time they are in the mouth.

If children have poor diets, their teeth may not develop properly. Children need protein, vitamins and minerals, especially calcium and phosphorous, to build strong teeth and resist tooth decay and gum disease.

While it is true that baby teeth do eventually come out, it is also true that they are important to your child in the meantime. Children need their baby teeth to speak clearly, eat comfortably and smile with self-confidence. Also, baby teeth hold space for the permanent teeth. If one is lost, the others shift into the empty space. This often means a crooked smile in a child’s future. In addition, a decayed tooth can become infected and cause overall discomfort for a child.

For the first visit, your child may do great, they may be a little fussy, or they may be totally uncooperative. These are all normal for the first few visits. Each child develops and reacts differently. Our office works in partnership with you to help your child overcome their fear and start to enjoy the dentist. Sometimes it takes one or more visits for your child to understand the dentist office can be fun and exciting for everyone.

Our office is creatively designed for these first visits to help the child to have a great experience. The colorful, playful surroundings put most children at ease. There are televisions above every chair for the children to relax and enjoy a movie throughout their visit.

Each dental visit starts with a member of our friendly office staff greeting your child and showing them around the office. Typically the first visit includes an exam, cleaning and fluoride. The doctor will perform an exam on the teeth, gums, and bite. X-rays may or may not be necessary. The doctor will spend much of the time discussing the findings and educating the patient and parent. Vann Pediatric Dental encourages patients and parents to ask any questions they may have during or after their visit.

Infants

Before the teeth erupt, clean your baby’s mouth and gums with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush at bath time.  When the teeth erupt, clean the child’s teeth at least twice a day with a toothbrush designed for small children.  Clean your baby’s mouth with a wet washcloth after feeding and/or a bottle and encourage a bottle with plain water, especially for frequent nighttime feedings.  Take your baby to a pediatric dentist before their first birthday. The earlier the visit, the better the chance of learning how to prevent cavities and helping your child belong to the cavity-free generation.

If you must put your baby to sleep with a bottle, use nothing but water. When a child is frequently throughout the day and night breast-fed or given a bottle containing sugary liquids such as milk, formula, or fruit juice, the teeth will often develop multiple large cavities that can be difficult to fixes or even loss of teeth at a very young age. Breast-feeding has been shown to be beneficial for babies. However, if your child prefers to be breast-fed often or for long periods, he or she is at risk for severe tooth decay.

Toddler
Juice boxes, sippy cups, and bottles filled juice and milk and sipped on throughout the day can put your toddler at serious risk for cavities. Serve drinks with meals and snacks, and put sugar free such as water in sippy cups or bottles.

Never dip a pacifier in anything sweet; it can lead to serious tooth decay.

Wean your infant from the bottle by one year of age.

PREVENTIVE STEP 1: GOOD HOME CARE

Supervise your child’s brushing and flossing.

The best times to brush are after breakfast and before bed.

The best toothbrushes have soft, round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums.

Select a fluoride toothpaste accepted by the American Dental Association.

Encourage your child to floss at least once a day.

Supervise your child’s flossing until age 7 or 8, which is about the same time that a child can tie his shoelaces on his own.

Snack in moderation, no more than three or four times a day. Snacks should contribute to the overall nutrition and health of the child. Cheese, vegetables and yogurt are all nutritious snacks.

 

PREVENTIVE STEP 2: FLUORIDES

Fluoride not only helps prevent tooth decay, slows the growth of decay, but can also cure cavities in their early stages. A healed cavity is stronger than the original tooth surface.

Water fluoridation is still the No. 1 way to prevent tooth decay. However, over 40% of children do not have access to fluoridated water.

If a child does not have access to adequately fluoridated water, a pediatric dentist can advise parents about other sources of fluoride, such as fluoride supplements. Fluoride treatments, fluoride toothpastes, and fluoride mouth rinses may be indicated whether there is fluoridated water or not.

A pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the brush is plenty for fluoride protection. Children should spit out, not swallow, the toothpaste after brushing.

 

PREVENTIVE STEP 3: SEALANTS

Most cavities occur in places that sealants could have protected. Four out of five cavities in children under age 12 occur on the biting surfaces of the back teeth.

Children with just a single application of sealants on their back teeth had 50% less tooth decay and tooth restorations after 15 years than children without sealants.

The teeth most at risk of decay and therefore most in need of sealants are the six-year and twelve-year molars.

 

PREVENTIVE STEP 4: MOUTH PROTECTORS IN SPORTS

More than 200,000 injuries are prevented each year by wearing mouth protectors.

A mouthguard not only protects the teeth but may reduce the force of blows that can cause concussions, neck injuries and jaw fractures. A child should wear a mouth protector while participating in any activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding and even gymnastics.

 

PREVENTIVE STEP 5: REGULAR DENTAL VISITS

Regular dental visits help children stay cavity-free. Teeth cleanings remove plaque build-up on the teeth. Plaque irritates the gums and causes decay.

Fluoride treatment renews the fluoride content in the enamel, strengthening teeth and preventing cavities.

It is essential to get an on-going assessment of changes in a child’s oral health by a pediatric dentist. For example, a child may need additional fluoride, dietary changes, sealants, or interceptive orthodontics for ideal dental health.

1. You have not outgrown your need for dental visits – or your pediatric dentist. Dentistry for adolescents and teens is an important part of the advanced training of a pediatric dentist.
2. Gum disease (also called periodontal disease or gingivitis) is not just a risk to your dental health, but also to your appearance. It affects six out of ten teenagers, causing red or swollen gums, bleeding gums or bad breath. The best prevention is brushing, flossing and regular dental visits.
3. As your body grows during the teen years, your face and jaws will grow and change as well. During the teen years, you probably will lose your last baby teeth, get your remaining permanent teeth, and experience growth in the face and jaw. You can be healthy and attractive through these changes by taking good care of your teeth and visiting your pediatric dentist.
4. By the end of your teen years, you probably will get the last of your permanent teeth, called wisdom teeth or third molars. Although some third molars come into the mouth normally, others need to be removed because of their position or lack of space. Your pediatric dentist will make sure any treatment needed for your third molars takes place at the right time for you.
5. If your teeth are chipped or discolored, new treatments in cosmetic dentistry can restore the look of your smile. Talk to your pediatric dentist about treatment choices to help you feel more confident about your appearance.

Brush twice a day – after breakfast and before bed – with fluoride toothpaste. Floss once a day to prevent gum disease and tooth decay on the sides of the teeth.

Wear a mouthguard during any sport or activity in which your mouth can be hit. A mouthguard is essential sports equipment not just for football and hockey, but also for such activities as soccer, basketball, baseball, snowboarding and gymnastics.

Visit your pediatric dentist twice a year. Teeth cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants are still important for you to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath.