Pediatric Dentistry

Whether nursing or bottle feeding, incorporating an oral cleaning routine with your baby establishes good dental habits and will make the transition to tooth cleaning easier when teeth begin to erupt. Use a wet wash cloth or gauze to wipe the gums and remove any debris. Between 3 and 9 months, your baby’s teeth will begin to erupt. Known as teething, this process may cause your child to be fussy. Rubbing the affected gum tissues with your finger, or using a cooled washcloth or teething ring may bring some relief. Typically teething can last several days, although for the parent this may seem much longer. Avoid teething medications that contain the topical anesthetic benzocaine or any homeopathic teething gels or tables. Several homeopathic products have been associated with toxic levels of belladonna.

Early Childhood Caries (Decay)

This is the most chronic childhood disease in dentistry, and prevention is the best approach. A healthy diet to prevent tooth decay is as important as establishing good hygiene habits. Baby teeth aren’t just around for a few years. The last of the baby teeth typically come out at age 12. In some instances, the permanent tooth that would replace the baby tooth doesn’t form, and the baby tooth may be in place for a much longer time. Baby teeth help keep adult teeth in their right place, and premature loss of baby teeth may allow drifting of the adult teeth requiring future correction. Decay of baby teeth may cause some decay on the adjacent permanent tooth and lead to a lifetime of dental treatment.