First Dental Visit for your Child
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends having the first dental visit within 6 months after the eruption of the first primary tooth. The objectives of this visit are multi-fold and include basically parent education about oral disease risks and anticipatory guidance. The ultimate goal is the early identification of risks and the implementation of tailored preventive programs for your child.
Dental Caries is an Infectious Disease
Dental caries is an infectious disease usually passed from mother to child and from generation to generation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that dental caries is perhaps the most prevalent of infectious diseases in our nation's children. Dental caries is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever in children.
S mutans and Lactobacillus species are considered the principal type of bacteria responsible for the production of cavities in children.
Steps to Delay-Prevent Infecting your Child with Caries Producing Bacteria
The colonization of S mutans from mother to infant is well documented. This infection occurs at an average age of approximately 2 years although current studies have shown that it can happen as early as 4 months of age. The children of mothers with high caries risk are at a higher risk of decay.
Pregnant women or mothers of infants can decrease the amount of decay-producing bacteria in their own mouth. The next are steps to follow; strict oral hygiene procedures at home, reviewing dietary practices and fluoride exposure, looking at the utilization of dental services and also at the number and location of untreated decay and fillings in their mouth. This will give an indication of the mother's decay potential. A clean mouth can go a long way in ensuring a healthy mouth for your children.
Recent studies involving the use of xylitol-containing products such as bubble gum and juices have shown the effectiveness in reducing the amount of decay producing bacteria, both, in mothers and in children. Ask your dentist for more information.
Early Childhood Caries
Early childhood dental caries emerges within all cultural and economic pediatric populations; however, it approaches near epidemic proportions in populations with low socioeconomic status.
The following are indicators to predict children at a higher risk of developing early childhood caries:
• Children of mothers with a high caries rate
• Children with special health care needs
• Children who sleep with a bottle or breastfeed throughout the night
• Later-order offspring
• Children in families of low socioeconomic status
This is the reason every child should begin to receive oral health risk assessments by 6 months of age by a qualified pediatrician or a qualified pediatric health care professional.
Flourides in Pediatric Dentistry
Regular and frequent exposure to low doses of fluoride is the best way to protect against dental caries.
Children receive fluoride in two ways - systemically and topically. Systemic fluoride reaches the developing teeth through the child's metabolic system. Only fluoride ingested during the tooth forming years has the systemic effect of enhancing resistance to later acid demineralization. Systemic fluorides include fluoridated water and fluoride supplements (drops, swallowed liquids, and tablets). Topical fluoride reaches the teeth directly in the mouth. It inhibits the metabolism of the decay-producing bacteria in plaque and stabilizes minerals in the teeth, thus slowing down the caries process. Topical fluorides include fluoridated water, fluoride-containing toothpaste, over the counter fluoride rinses, and professionally applied fluoride treatments.
Pit and Fissure Sealants
Dental sealants are plastic coatings applied to teeth to prevent dental caries by creating a physical barrier against bacterial plaque and food retention. The dental caries process often originates in the pits and grooves normally found on the biting surfaces of back teeth because these areas trap food and bacteria and are difficult to keep clean. Sealants can be applied to both primary and permanent teeth, but are not usually applied to primary teeth unless the child is at high risk for caries and has particularly deep grooves. Most children will benefit from dental sealants as soon as their first and second permanent molars erupt, around age six and twelve respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
For questions such as:
- What should I use to clean my baby's teeth?
- What should I do if my child has a toothache?
- Are thumb-sucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child's teeth?
And more please go to the following link: www.aapd.org/pediatricinformation/faq.asp
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