Centre for Distinctive Dentistry Blog - Dr. Ned Nippoldt

• For the first few years of life, thumb-sucking or pacifier use has important formative and nurturing functions.




• Most children will stop sucking between 2 and 4 years of age on their own. The habit should be discouraged after 4 years of age.




• A critical issue with pacifiers is safety. Check to make sure that any pacifier your child uses is resistant to breakage, designed to prevent airway obstruction, and kept clean. Never secure a pacifier around your child's neck.




• Dental changes from thumb sucking or pacifier use are determined by the duration of their use and the intensity of sucking.

When will baby's teeth come in?

• Sometime during the first three years of life most babies get 20 primary teeth.




• The lower two front teeth are typically the first to erupt. These usually erupt sometime around 6 months of age. Do not be concerned if your baby is a little late. There is a wide range for normal.

Avoiding baby bottle decay

• Baby bottle decay occurs when a child's teeth are frequently exposed to sugary liquids for long periods of time. Among these liquids are milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened liquids. Never use a feeding bottle as a pacifier.




• If you must give your baby a bottle at bedtime or naptime, make sure it contains plain water.




• Never give a baby a pacifier that has been dipped in honey.

Caring for your baby's teeth

• Start cleaning your child's teeth as soon as they appear.




• When they first appear, you can wipe the new teeth with gauze.




• As soon as your child allows, brush the teeth twice a day with a soft, infant toothbrush using simple, gentle short back and forth motion to remove plaque.




• Once the child is old enough to understand they should not swallow toothpaste, start using a small, pea-size dab of fluoride toothpaste when you brush his/her teeth.




• The best way to encourage brushing is to be a good role model.




• The best way to prevent passing caries-causing bacteria on to your family members is to visit your dentist routinely and treat any decay or periodontal disease that you may have.

From Bottle/Breast to Cup

• Parents should encourage their child to drink from a cup by their first birthday.




• The best training cup for your child is a no-valve training cup. No-spill cups include a valve beneath the spout. While the valve does stop spills, it acts the same as a bottle, which defeats the purpose, as it prevents your child from learning to sip.




• Do not let your child carry around the training cup. It will cause the habit of at-will, frequent sips of sugary liquids. This encourages tooth decay.




• Once your child has learned to sip, the training cup should be retired and exchanged for a regular cup.

Watching your child/grandchild grow and develop is always exciting. We love to be a part of promoting excellent dental health to family members of all ages. If you are looking for a dentist in the Woodbury, St. Paul, Minneapolis, MN, or Hudson, WI, areas, please give our office a call at 651.739.8573 and we will help you schedule an appointment.

Labels: children's dental health, Family Dentist, Family Dentistry, Infant Oral Health Exam, Periodontal Disease