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Tips for Parents

TIPS FOR PARENTS

Tips From Our Pediatric Dentists

If you set your little one up with good oral habits now, you can help prevent expensive and even painful problems in the future. Our pediatric dentists share tips on how you can help your child maintain good oral hygiene. We offer tips on baby bottle tooth decay, baby’s first tooth, information on fluoride, pacifiers, thumb-sucking, and more. Preventing early tooth decay, misaligned teeth, and other issues is necessary for your child’s overall health.


If good oral hygiene practices are ignored in children, they could face a lifetime of dental issues. Get started on your child’s oral hygiene today with tips from our pediatric dentists to help prevent future issues. Our pediatric dentists see patients from the Bloomfield, Canandaigua, Fairport, Farmington, Macedon, Pittsford, and Victor NY area. Review tips from our pediatric dentists below, and when you are ready to schedule your child’s visit, contact us!

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Also known as Baby Bottle Syndrome and Nursing Bottle Mouth, this condition occurs when an infant’s teeth rapidly decay. The upper front teeth are the ones most typically affected by this, since they are the teeth that normally have the most exposure to the milk sugars. The lower front teeth usually come in first but have more protection from the tongue. 


Be sure to check for signs periodically such as brown spots along the gumline, and crying and/or frowning when eating cold, sweet, or harder foods. In addition, be sure to do the following:

• Clean their teeth every day and make sure they get the fluoride needed to help prevent decay

• Don’t let them fall asleep with a bottle (if they’re awake, don’t let them use it for a lengthy period)

• Once they reach age 1, you should have begun weaning them off a bottle

• Give them plain water if they’re thirsty

• Take them for regular dental visits once their first tooth comes in

Baby’s First Tooth

The bottom front teeth usually come in first, at about 6-8 months of age. The bottom two are followed by the upper set of four front teeth. The rest come in by pairs on either side of the jaw. By age 2½, all 20 baby teeth will likely have erupted. However, if your child deviates from this schedule, don’t be alarmed! Everyone is different! 

Although baby teeth will eventually be replaced with permanent teeth, taking care of them is no less important. It’s important to encourage good oral hygiene habits in your child from an early age to help them develop a smile that lasts a lifetime. 
Your Child’s Initial Visit

We recommend scheduling this when your child’s first tooth comes in. While your child may only begin to show signs of growing teeth, there are still precautionary measures you can take for a baby's oral health. Our office can offer advice to deal with the teething months, all the way to when children's baby teeth begin to fall out to make room for their adult teeth. Visiting a family dentist that you can trust throughout the entirety of your child's growth can be greatly beneficial. You should also become acquainted with the office staff and layout first and bring your child along so they can do the same. 


Do not wait until something is wrong to schedule an appointment. And although it may be difficult, try to avoid saying things like “it won’t be too bad” or “it won’t hurt that much,” as they can cause even greater anxiety in children.


Our office accepts patients throughout Pittsford, Victor, Farmington, Fairport, Bloomfield, & Canandaigua, NY, therefore even if you relocate around the WNY area throughout the years, your child can remain seeing their initial family dentist.

Fluoride Information
Fluoride is very commonly used to prevent tooth decay, as it hardens the tooth’s enamel. In fact, if treatment is begun early enough, small cavities can be stopped using fluoride. Fluoride can be used in two ways: systemically and topically. 

Systemic fluoride can be found in drinking water, food, and supplements. It recommended that children receive fluoride through this method up through age 16. 

Topical forms of fluoride include toothpaste, at-home rinses and gels, and the professional fluoride gels and treatments used in the dentist’s office. Topical fluoride is recommended for those susceptible to cavities and dry mouth, as well as those who wear braces or another orthodontic appliance. Schedule an appointment with us if you have questions about fluoride. 

Please don’t forget that fluoride is, like any other mineral, toxic in large doses. When teaching your child how to brush, use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and tell them not to swallow any of it. Children under the age of 6 (i.e. children who cannot yet rinse and spit), should not be given fluoride. 
Oral Hygiene In Children
Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe the teeth and gums of your infant after a feeding. Once a tooth appears, brush it using a soft-bristled brush but do not use toothpaste, as young children usually swallow most of it. This can lead to a condition called dental fluorosis, which are permanent spots on baby teeth.

If you find brushing your child’s teeth awkward, try the following techniques. Have your child lie down on your lap or on the floor and keep his or her head steady with your legs. Or, you could try having your child stand with his or her back to you. Tilt the head slightly and rest it against you. Always use a mirror to show your children proper technique when brushing and flossing. 

It is very important to make sure your child’s teeth are brushed at bedtime. When you’re awake, the saliva your mouth produces helps to keep it clean. But during sleep, not as much is produced. Therefore, if bacteria and sugar are sitting on your teeth all night, they can do a lot of damage. 

Children need smaller brushes that will fit their smaller mouths. Be sure to supervise your child’s brushing until about 8-10 years of age to ensure thoroughness. Start flossing once their teeth are touching each other and you are no longer able to brush in between them. 
Pacifier Info
The name “pacifier” exists for a good reason, as babies find sucking to be very nourishing and soothing. When they aren’t eating, a pacifier is likely to cause misaligned teeth and is easier to discontinue than a finger or thumb is. 

If you notice your infant sucking a finger or thumb a lot during their first 3 months of life, consider the use of a pacifier. To avoid trauma to the gums, give them one with a rubber nipple. Only use it when necessary, not around the clock. Check the pacifier periodically for damage, as damaged ones are a choking hazard. Likewise, do not tie it around your baby’s neck, as that can lead to strangulation. 
Sealant Information
Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent food and bacteria from collecting in the grooves. They are most effective on the permanent first and second molars, and it’s very important to have it applied as soon as the molars come in. Sealants can also be used on pre-molars with deep grooves. While sealants can last for several years, it’s important to have them checked at every regular cleaning. They are nearly 100% effective in preventing decay and can be easily replaced if necessary. 
Snack Facts
Sugary snacks can increase your child’s risk of developing cavities. Provide snacks such as veggies, cheese, or pretzels instead. Don’t forget that natural sugars found in healthy foods such as milk and fruit have the same effect as the refined sugars in colas do. Therefore, it’s important to brush and floss after consuming them. If you must serve sweets, do so with a meal as the increased saliva production will help to neutralize the sugar. 
Teething Info
There are several telltale signs that your baby is teething, such as increased drooling, restlessness, and irritability. However, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea are typically not symptoms of teething, and a doctor should be consulted if they occur. 

Give your baby a cold, hard object like a teething ring during this time. The cold helps to sooth the pain and the hardness helps to speed up the process. Massaging the gums with your clean finger can also help. While teething gels and ointments can be used (ask your pharmacist for a good one), avoid teething cookies and biscuits, as they contain sugar that can lead to decay. 
Thumb-Sucking Info
This is quite common in young children. Normally, your child will drop the habit by age 4. If it continues beyond that age, misaligned teeth can result, which in turn can cause speech issues. 

The best prevention is to use a pacifier to discourage the habit in the first place, as a pacifier can be more easily weaned. Please note that it may take several attempts to get your child to stop; be sure not to pressure him or her too much, as that can make the situation worse. Try placing a Band-Aid on their thumb or offer rewards if they’re successful. Offer plenty of praise if they are as well! 
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