Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP

Why is a pediatrician writing about dental health?

National Children’s Dental Health Month is meant to raise awareness about the importance of oral health and nutrition. We pediatricians look into the mouths of our patients a lot – and long before the pediatric dentist takes a peek. We answer parents’ questions about their child’s developing mouth and teeth.

Here are the five most important things that parents of toddlers should know about teeth.

1. Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appear.
2. Use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.
3. Don’t let toddlers go to bed with anything in the bottle than water.
4. Schedule regular dental checkups from an early age. Just like pediatric well visits😊
5. Limit sugary drinks and snacks in order to prevent tooth decay and to assure healthy tooth development.

The following are questions I am typically asked about kids and teeth.

“If baby teeth fall out anyways, why should we care about them?”

Baby teeth have an important purpose. They help a child to chew, speak and smile. They also hold the space for the “grown up” teeth that will come in later. If a baby tooth is lost prematurely, it can cause problems for the subsequent tooth. It may even impact speech development.

“Why are my 15-month’s teeth rotting?”

Without seeing it firsthand, my professional guess is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. This comes from frequent contact with sugars in drinks. No time like the present to get rid of that bottle in bed with the baby at night. Fact: Milk is a sugary liquid.

“My baby/toddler is a thumb sucker. What does this mean?’

Thumb-sucking is normal in babies and toddlers. Some even use pacifiers. Babies suck their thumbs because they have a natural urge to suck. This urge usually decreases after the age of 6 months, but many babies continue to suck their thumbs to soothe themselves. Thumb-sucking can become a habit in babies and young children who use it to comfort themselves when they feel hungry, afraid, restless, quiet, sleepy, or bored.

Little by little, most stop between the ages of 3 to 4 years. Thumb-sucking in children under age 4 is usually not a problem. Continuing to thumb-suck after age 5 or 6 puts kids at risk for dental or speech problems.

My advice: Don’t worry about thumb-sucking unless your child is approaching kindergarten age. At this age, involve your pediatric dentist.

“My baby has cut a tooth: What do we do?”

Teething can be a tough time for parents to navigate on their own. Your baby is fussy, drooling, and then…wow! You spot that first little tooth popping out just below the gum. You’ll watch your baby’s gummy smile be replaced with baby teeth over the next couple of years.

The teeth may be small, but it’s important to care for them. They are placeholders for adult teeth that will eventually grow in. Healthy teeth are essential for learning how to chew food properly and speaking clearly.

My advice: It’s important to take care of the gums and teeth, so here is what you do:

• With a soft, moistened facecloth of piece of gauze, gently wipe down your baby’s gums twice daily. Do this after baby’s feedings and especially before bedtime.
• Once the first tooth appears, it’s time for a toothbrush. It should be a soft brush with a small head and large handle.
• At first, just wet the toothbrush and gently brush the teeth and gums. As more teeth erupt, use a fluoridated toothpaste. The amount should be about the size of a grain of rice. Eventually, you’ll use an amount about the size of a pea.

“When should my child begin visiting the pediatric dentist?”

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child goes to the dentist after 1 year of age, or 6 months after the first tooth erupts. The dentist will briefly inspect your child’s mouth, noting the size and number of teeth present. However, if your child has a problem, then reach out sooner.

For school-age children, dental check-ups should be part of your regular health care routine. Just like parents, kids should have a professional teeth cleaning and dental exam every 6 months.

My advice: It’s never too young to start being vigilant about your child’s oral health. Your child’s teeth are meant to last a lifetime, and a healthy smile is important to his or her self-esteem. With proper care, a balanced diet and regular dental visits, your child’s teeth can remain healthy and strong.

Fascinating fact: Reports show that American students miss 51 million hours of school every year because of oral health problems.

Students who are absent miss critical instruction time—especially in early grades where reading skills are an important focus and the building blocks of future learning. Students who have experienced recent oral health pain are four times more likely to have lower grade point averages than their counterparts who have not.

This only reenforces while oral hygiene is important for your child.

As always, daven.