FAQ

As soon as your baby’s new teeth start making their appearance, they need to be properly cared for to keep them clean and healthy to avoid future decay. Here are some suggestions and guidelines set by the AAPD:

Parents make a habit of cleaning infant mouth and gums regularly with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth with water daily. You can begin brushing an infant’s teeth as soon as they make an appearance.

Children older than six months need fluoride supplements if their drinking water does not contain fluoride. Fluoride supplementation in infants has shown to reduce tooth decay by as much as 50%.

Breast-feeding and bottle-feeding at will should be avoided after the first primary teeth begin to erupt. After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a clean gauze or washcloth. Don’t allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle containing anything but water.
Avoid giving your child sugar water, juice, and soft drinks.

Avoid sharing utensils, toothbrushes or other items with your child that comes into contact with your mouth. Adults can transfer cavity-causing bacteria to their children by sharing these items.

Have you noticed that your baby is fussier than usual? He or she could be getting a cold or possibly beginning the teething process. With the lower teeth usually coming in first, teething typically begins at around 6 months of age. However, it is perfectly normal for teething to start anytime between 3 months and 12 months of age. By the time your baby is 3 years old, he or she will have all 20 primary teeth. That is quite an accomplishment!

Teething can cause soreness and swelling in the gums as those baby teeth make their way through. Symptoms can start a few days before the tooth shows, and they may disappear as soon as the tooth erupts through the gum. This pain and swelling is what causes them to be more fussy and agitated, and as a result can raise their body temperature to slightly warmer than normal. Teething is a normal physiologic process. If your child has a fever or nasal congestion, it is not from teething. Many babies also drool excessively during this time, which can cause a rash on their skin and face from the saliva. You may also notice that your baby will want to bite more on their fingers and toys to help relieve some of the discomfort they feel in their gums. On some extreme occasions, babies may be picky or refuse to eat and drink for a couple of days. If your baby’s symptoms seem severe or do not subside, contact your child's pediatrician.

Here are some helpful tips that will help them get through the teething process:

Rubbing: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rubbing your baby’s swollen, tender gums with a (clean) finger to provide soothing counterpressure. Your baby may cry and resist at first because it seems to hurt initially, but the counterpressure soon brings relief.

Chewing: Teething babies love to chew, and for good reason: The gumming action provides counterpressure, which relieves the aching pressure of new pearly whites pushing up and out into the mouth. Provide safe objects for your baby to chew on, such as teething rings. Teethers come in many variations now, ranging from pacifier types for babies, to other types for older children finding discomfort in molars erupting. Silicone teethers are best and many can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer to be made cold and additionally aid in discomfort. A clean, cold, damp washcloth makes a great teether. Putting it in the freezer for a few minutes will additionally help in the relief to numb the gum.

Cold food: Like icy food to suck on or chilled food to eat, such as yogurt, blended peaches, and applesauce (once they've already been introduced to your baby), can be more appetizing than warm or room-temperature foods, and can ease achy gums. Also frozen fruits like bananas and plums can be placed in a baby feeder mesh bag (so large chunks of gummed-off food can't pose a choking risk), but only under adult supervision and with baby sitting or propped upright.

Cold drinks: A bottle of icy cold water can offer chilly relief to achy gums for babies over six months old (when water can be introduced), or, if baby doesn't take a bottle or balks at sucking, give (ice-free) water in a cup.

Pain relief: If chewing, rubbing, and sucking chilly foods don't do the trick, you can give your baby a mild pain reliever that is labeled for their specific age. Acetaminophen may help relieve some of their discomfort for a longer length of time.

Teething gel: Teething gels should be your very last resort for children under 2 — and only with a doctor’s okay. The main ingredient in most teething gels, liquids, and swabs is benzocaine, an anesthetic that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says can cause a “rare but serious” condition called methemoglobinemia.

Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or pacifiers past the age of three, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your dentist.

Avoid nursing children to sleep and children should not fall asleep with a bottle. If need to, just put water in their bed-time bottle. Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Drinking juice from a bottle should not be encouraged.

Toothpaste should be introduced when a child is 2-3 years of age. Prior to that, parents should clean the child's teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. When toothpaste is used, parents should supervise brushing and make sure the child uses no more than a pea-sized amount on the brush. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.

Your child should see a dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday. A check-up every six months is recommended in order to prevent cavities and other dental problems.

From the moment you call us for your child’s first appointment, we will make your child’s visit a pleasant one, establishing a relationship of trust and ultimately assisting you in developing necessary dental habits.

When you first arrive at our office, we will make your child feel welcome with a tour of the office. During this initial visit, our focus is on providing proper dental education and a comprehensive oral examination. We will recommend ways to protect your child’s oral health by evaluating habits, diet and use of fluoride. Our objective is to teach both you and your child how to properly clean and brush his or her teeth.

We may also choose to perform a professional cleaning, and provide a topical fluoride treatment. Also, if necessary, x-rays may be requested. If we find that your child requires treatment beyond a dental cleaning, we will discuss their treatment plan in detail with you, making sure you understand exactly what we recommend, what all your options are, and why.

We find that young children typically feel best in the morning, so it is our policy to schedule their first appointment in the morning, ensuring they have the best experience possible. We recommend that you try to schedule your appointment early in your day, making sure your child is rested and feeling well.

It is also best to not overdo preparation, but rather to simply tell your child about the visit the night before, treating it like the highlight of the next day. Dressing up for the visit can also help increase the expectations of a pleasant experience, similar to other special events you may prepare them for. Overall, just be sure to talk about the visit in a positive, matter-of-fact way, as you would any important new experience. If you have any questions or concerns at all, please call our office. We are here to help make it pleasant for everyone.

By definition, tooth decay (cavities) occurs when bacteria in the mouth produce acids that erode teeth. Plaque, which is a sticky substance that contains bacteria, is constantly forming on your teeth and gums. As the bacteria feed from the sugars or carbohydrates in your mouth, they make potent acids. Over time, these acids destroy the enamel on teeth and cause cavities. If not treated, cavities lead to discomfort, pain, infection, and tooth loss. Most people can avoid decay by brushing and flossing their teeth regularly, avoiding foods high in starch and sugar content, and seeing their dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.

Have you ever taken a sip of coffee or bit into an ice cream bar and winced from pain? There can be many causes of sensitive teeth, including decay, a cracked tooth, or tooth roots that are exposed due to gum recession. Our teeth have a strong layer of enamel, and underneath the enamel is a part of the tooth that is less dense called dentin. When the dentin loses its protective coating, heat, cold or air can over-stimulate the nerve cells and cause discomfort. Depending on the cause, treatment is often successful with several applications of desensitizing toothpaste or applying a fluoride gel to the affected area. When these treatments are unsuccessful, the dentist may recommend a more permanent measure such as a sealant or filling to cover the sensitive area.

Also called "periodontal disease," it is defined as inflammation and receding of the gums. If severe enough, gum disease can lead to loss of the soft and hard tissues that holds teeth in place, and ultimately loss of teeth. Plaque, the key player in tooth decay, is also the cause of gum disease with different types of bacteria. When not removed properly, plaque can harden around the gumline, causing the gums to pull away from teeth and forming pockets where more bacteria can collect. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to the following symptoms: swollen/bleeding gums, constant bad breath, pus between teeth and gums, and in advanced cases, teeth that are loose or moving away from one another.

Painful and annoying, a mouth sore of any type can make eating and drinking for a week or two quite a challenge. Canker sores should not be mistaken for other mouth sores that are caused by viruses like the Cold sores. Here are the key differences and their treatments:

Canker sores only appear inside the mouth (inside the cheek, under the tongue, or in the back of the throat.) They usually have a red edge and a gray center. They can be quite painful. Canker sores aren't contagious. They may happen if you have a viral infection. They may also be triggered by stress, food allergies, lack of vitamins and minerals, hormonal changes or menstrual periods. Sometimes trauma such as scratches, bites, or cuts in the mouth can also cause canker sores or further irritate an existing one. In some cases, the cause is unknown. The only treatment is to relieve its symptoms – they simply have to run their course of 7 to 10 days. Over-the-counter pain medication (Advil or Tylenol) or topical numbing agents or antimicrobial mouth rinses (ask your pharmacist) offer temporary but good relief. Also, avoiding spicy, hot, acidic, hard, or crunchy foods will keep the canker sore from getting further irritated and thus delaying the healing process.

Cold sores, or fever blisters, are fluid-filled red blisters on the lips and skin around them. They are caused by various herpes viruses, are highly contagious, and are sometimes accompanied by a cold or flu with fever. Some people find a cold sore painful and others find the sores tingle, itch, or burn. Once a patient is infected with this virus, it “sleeps” in the nerve cells and “wakes up” when the body is stressed. Wind, sunlight, and fatigue can cause a flare up of the herpes virus. Unfortunately, there is no cure for cold sore. A sore will usually heal on its own without any scar within 12 days by blistering, breaking open, oozing fluid, and a scab formation. The oozing fluid stage is the most contagious as the liquid contains millions of infectious virus particles that can spread to other body parts or other people via skin contact or by sharing utensils, towels, or drinks. Thus, during the outbreak, prevent your child from scratching or picking at the sores. Antiviral medication in pills or ointment can speed healing and can be most effective in early stage of outbreak (before blistering). Over-the-counter topical anesthetics or antiviral agents provide good temporary relief of discomfort. Contact your pediatrician or pediatric dentist to arrange a visit. Avoid your child from eating foods that can further irritate the sore such as acidic, spicy, hard, or crunchy foods. Using sun block before being in the sun and lip balm for dry lips can help prevent such outbreaks.

Post Extraction Care Make certain that your child continues to bite on the gauze pad for 20-30 minutes after leaving our office. The biting pressure on gauze pad stops the bleeding and allows better clotting. A slight oozing of blood for a day is normal. Call our office if there is any excessive bleeding. Avoid using straws and rinsing for one day. Doing so can disturb the clot and delay healing.

Maintain a soft diet for the rest of the day (soups, pasta, eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, gelatin, puddings, apple sauce, soft cheeses, mashed potatoes are good examples). Avoid hot foods and anything with seeds.

Be careful that your child does not accidentally bite or scratch the numb cheek. The numbness generally lasts one to two hours.

Give Paracetamol (Panadol) for any discomfort or pain.

Gentle brushing and gentle rinsing with warm salt water (1tsp dissolved in an 8oz glass of water) can begin the morning following extraction. A clean mouth will heal more quickly. Continue the rinsing for several days and longer if there is a problem keeping the area clean.

Please call our office if you have any questions or concerns.

Children can complain of pain in their teeth and gums for a variety of reasons.

Make sure that the area with pain is thoroughly cleaned. Do this by vigorously rinsing with warm salt water. Use dental floss to dislodge trapped food or debris and note any swelling or redness.

If the face is swollen, or there is a blister on the gum, contact us immediately. Acetaminophen can be given to relieve pain.
As a rule, if your child is having difficulty eating or sleeping, we should see them as soon as possible.

If your child has a fall or an accident where they have bumped their mouth hard enough to loosen or knock out a primary (baby) tooth, come to see us as soon as you can. We will take an x-ray of the area and check to make sure the permanent teeth were not affected by the trauma. We will NOT re-insert a knocked out baby tooth, but we will check the area to make sure that the entire tooth did come out, and that there are no residual pieces or foreign body left in the gum.

If your child knocks out a permanent (adult) tooth there are several crucial steps to take at the site of the accident that will greatly increase the chances of saving the tooth:

Find the tooth and handle it only by the top (crown), not the root portion.

You may rinse the tooth, but do not clean or handle it unnecessarily.

Try to reinsert it in its socket. All it matters is that it’s in the socket and in its natural environment. If that is successful, have the child hold the tooth in place by biting on a clean gauze or cloth.

If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing cold milk.

See a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth! The best outcome is achieved when the tooth is treated within 60 minutes following the trauma.

Place a cold compress or ice over the face if there is swelling or if the child has abrasions.

If your child breaks or chips a tooth in an accident:

Locate and save any broken tooth fragments.

At the site of the accident, rinse dirt from the injured area with warm water.

Place a cold compress or ice over the face if there is swelling or if the child has abrasions.

It is best to see the dentist as soon as possible.