See
a Baby Tooth? See a Dentist!
Baby
teeth are worth more than a just dollar under the pillow.
Providing proper care and oral hygiene during a child's
first year of life can mean a lifetime of good oral health,
according to a recent article in AGD Impact, news magazine
of the Academy of General Dentistry, an organization of
general dentists dedicated to continuing education.
Traditionally,
parents have waited to bring their children to the dentist
until primary teeth begin to appear. A recent consumer
poll by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry shows
that nearly 70 percent of parents wait until their children
are 3 years old before taking them to the dentist. But
a dental visit by age 1-or within six months of the eruption
of the first baby tooth-is crucial, says Academy spokesperson
Cynthia E. Sherwood, DDS.
Dr.
Sherwood says this early visit gives a dentist the opportunity
to see potential problems such as early-childhood caries
(also known as baby bottle tooth decay); educate the parent
on proper oral hygiene for the child; and give the toddler
a positive experience in a dental setting. This can do
wonders in allaying fears and boosting the child's future
attitude toward visiting the dentist, Dr. Sherwood says.
Education
is the heart of the age 1 exam. "When we see a toddler,
we primarily talk to the parents about growth, development,
thumb sucking, bottle and breast feeding, oral hygiene
and nutritional issues, use of fluoride and why baby teeth
are important," Dr. Sherwood said.
During
this first visit, the dentist usually will sit knee to
knee with the parent, with the child nestled in the parent's
lap, and the dentist will ask the parent to demonstrate
how she or he brushes the child's teeth. Then, if parent
and tot are comfortable, the dentist will turn the child
around onto his or her lap, so the dentist can get a good
look at the child's teeth and gums. This "pleasant,
painless visit" should take no more than 15 minutes,
Dr. Sherwood said.
"Sitting
knee to knee with the parent, playing with the baby and
talking with the parent, I can get a very good sense of
the child's oral health care, and this position gives
us a good opportunity to get a good look at the child's
teeth," says Dr. Sherwood. "It's a great experience
for everyone involved." Toddler dos and don'ts -
f Following
a few simple rules can help ensure your children a good
start in oral health.
DO:
•
Take your child to the dentist within six months of the
eruption of the first baby tooth, definitely by age 1.
• Follow your dentist's advice regarding nutrition, hygiene
routine, fluoride and dental visit schedule.
• Teach your child how to brush around age 3, and brush
your teeth with your children to model good technique
and spot problems.
DON'T:
•
Think baby teeth don't matter "because they'll just
fall out anyway."
•
Allow children to have continual access to a bottle or
"sippy-cup" filled with anything other than
water.
• Give your children the impression that visiting the
dentist is unpleasant
