Infant Dental Care (by the B.C. Ministry of Health Dec ‘99)
When will my child get teeth?
|
|
Primary Teeth
UPPER When teeth fall out Central Incisor 6-8 yrs Lateral Incisor 7-8 yrs Canines 10-12 yrs First Molar 9-11 yrs Second Molar 10-12 yrs
LOWER When teeth fall out Second molars 10-12 yrs First molars 9-11 yrs Canines 9-12 yrs Lateral Incisor 7-8 yrs Central Incisor 6-8 yrs
|
 |
Secondary Teeth
UPPER When teeth come in Central Incisor 7-8 yrs Lateral Incisor 8-9 yrs Canines 11-12 yrs First Bicuspids 10-11 yrs Second Bicuspids 10-12 yrs First Molar 6-7 yrs Second Molar 12-13 yrs Third Molar 17-21 yrs
LOWER When teeth come in Third molars 17-21 yrs Second molars 11-13 yrs First molars 6-7 yrs Second Bicuspids 11-12 yrs First Bicuspids 10-12 yrs Canines 9-10 yrs Lateral Incisor 7-8 yrs Central Incisor 6-7 yrs
|
Each child has their own schedule for teething. Most children begin teething at about six months and most “baby” teeth are in by 3 years of age. The bottom front teeth usually appear first, followed by the top front teeth.
Does teething hurt?
Although many babies have no teething problems, teething can often cause some discomfort, making the baby irritable, fussy and not wanting to eat. If your baby has a fever or diarrhea when teething, contact your family doctor.
Your baby may feel better if allowed to chew on a clean, chilled teething ring or wet face cloth. Teething cookies or biscuits are NOT a good choice, because they can stick to your baby’s teeth and cause tooth decay. Check with a health professional before using teething gels, ointments or teething tablets.
What is early childhood tooth decay?
Your baby’s teeth can start to decay from the first day they appear in the mouth. When a child uses a bottle for prolonged periods, especially during rest or sleep times, decay can develop. The decay starts along the gum line behind the top front teeth, which makes it hard to see. It spreads to the front of these teeth, and can often affect ALL your baby’s teeth. Fruit juice, sweetened tea, pop and even breast milk, cow’s milk and formula ALL contain sugars that can cause tooth decay if left in contact with the teeth for lengthy periods of time. Water will not harm the teeth. It is a good choice between regular feeding times.
Preventing early childhood tooth decay
Good dental health care for your baby starts before teeth begin to appear. Clean your child’s mouth every day. Start soon after birth by wiping all around your baby’s mouth with a clean, wet face cloth or soft baby toothbrush. This will get the child used to regular cleaning, and can also ease teething discomfort.
Once teeth appear (at about 6 months of age) smear a little fluoride toothpaste on a wet face cloth or baby toothbrush and gently clean your baby’s teeth. It is important to get in to the habit of doing this for your baby twice a day.
Cleaning your child's teeth
You should start cleaning your child's mouth BEFORE your child has teeth so that the teeth can grow into a clean environment. Use a moist cloth or a soft baby brush and wipe all areas of gum. Do NOT use toothpaste until your child has teeth.
Once the teeth have arrived, use a child-size soft toothbrush and a pea-sized dab of fluoridated toothpaste to clean his/her teeth. Flossing should start in any area where 2 or more teeth have erupted adjacent to each other. Brushing should be done in the morning and at night and flossing should be done at night. (see "brushing and flossing" from the RESOURCES page for more information on cleaning teeth.)
What about fluoride?
Fluoride is a proven effective and low cost cavity fighter. Fluoride is added to most brands of toothpaste, and is found naturally in some water supplies. A few major cities in Canada add a small amount of fluoride to their drinking water to raise the natural level to between 0.8 and 1.0 parts per million. This level is recommended for preventing tooth decay in all age groups by the Canadian Dental Association and the dental professionals of British Columbia. If you are unsure if your water supply contains optimum fluoride, call your local health unit. Fluoride supplements are often recommended for children in areas that do not have fluoride in the water and who are prone to cavities. This is a decision that should be discussed with your dentist.
Are fillings needed on baby teeth?
YES! When a baby tooth is broken or infected several harmful things can happen if it isn't treated: 1) the infection can spread to other teeth in the mouth, 2) the adult tooth can be damaged as it erupts and pushes out the infected baby tooth, and 3) neighboring teeth can move into the infected or broken area and result in crowding when the permanent teeth come in.
What about soothers (pacifiers)?
Soothers are sometimes given to infants at rest and sleep times or at other times when the baby has been fed but still wants to continue sucking. In the early weeks after birth, while breastfeeding is being established it is not advisable to give your baby a soother. The soother may interfere with your baby’s ability to learn how to breastfeed well. Talk to a public health nurse or other breastfeeding expert if you are having problems breastfeeding.
After feeding is well established, if you choose to give your baby a soother here are a few tips:
Choose a soother that is the right size for your baby’s mouth.
Check the soother nipples often; if it is sticky, cracked or torn, throw it away.
Never put the baby’s soother in your own mouth to clean it. This can infect your child with germs that cause tooth decay
Never dip the soother in honey or jam to sweeten it.
A soother is better than sucking a thumb because YOU can control when and how your child uses a soother. You can't control a thumb going into the mouth.
The soother should no longer be used after all the baby teeth have arrived (approx. 3 years).
When should baby's first check-up be?
Your baby should have a dental exam by the age of 3. At this appointment teeth are checked for eruption sequence and signs of decay, oral hygiene is reviewed, and the teeth are cleaned.