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Jerger Pediatric Dentistry > About Dentistry > For Infants > Common Questions
EARLY CHILDHOOD CAVITIES
What is baby bottle tooth decay?
When an infant or small child develops several cavities, usually on the top front teeth, it is called baby bottle tooth decay. These cavities may look like dark pits, holes or broken teeth and may cause toothaches and make it hard for the child to eat.
What causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
It happens when liquids that contain sugar are left in a baby's mouth for long or frequent periods of time. Even breast milk and formula contain sugar.
How can you protect your child’s teeth?
Your child should not:
- go to bed with a bottle filled with milk, formula, juice or sweetened drink – any liquid except water will cause dental decay.
- sleep at night at the breast.
- drink from a bottle throughout the day.
- use a pacifier if it is dipped in honey, syrup or anything sweet, such as Jello™ water, soda pop, fruit juce, Kool-Aid™, sugar water, milk or formula.
Your child should:
- Start drinking from a cup at 6 months of age and be weaned from his or her bottle by 1 year of age.
- Go to bed without a bottle. If your child must have a bottle to sleep, fill it with plain water. You may need to mix the drink in the bottle with water, a little more water each night, until your child is drinking plain water.
- Have his or her teeth cleaned after each feeding with a clean washcloth, gauze pad or a soft infant toothbrush. It is very important to clean your baby’s teeth before bedtime!
Are baby teeth important?
Baby teeth are important for chewing food and speaking properly. They also give your child a nice appearance and help to promote a good self image. If they are lost too early, the permanent teeth can come in crowded or out of line. Be sure your child visits a dentist by the child’s 1st birthday. These early efforts will be the key to your child’s future dental health.
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Commonly asked questions and answers for infants:
1. When should we start dental care?
The ADA recommends by the child’s 18 mo. birthday.
2. What is the best toothpaste?
When looking for toothpaste for your child, make sure to pick one that is fluoridated and recommended by the ADA.
3. Why is my child grinding?
Grinding is common with erupting teeth, but can also be caused by stress due to a new environment, or changes in school. The good news is that most children outgrow grinding (bruxism).
4. When will my baby start getting teeth?
Teething is variable among infants, but in general the first baby teeth are usually the lower front teeth. They erupt between ages six and eight months.
5. What should I use to comfort my baby during teething?
We recommend teething rings, which you can cool in the freezer. We also recommend massaging the gums with a toothbrush. Please do not overuse numbing agents such an Oragel or Ambesol because they hinder the function of swallowing and block the “gag” reflex, which can lead to choking.
6. When should I start brushing?
As soon as the first tooth erupts begin brushing, but use a wet washcloth to clean gums before tooth eruption.
7. Can I come back to the operatory while my child receives treatment in Dr. Jerger’s office?
If your child is twenty –four months old or younger you are invited to join him or her the first visit, however upon future visits we will request you staying in the waiting room.
8. How can I get my child to stop sucking his or her thumb?
First try conservative measures such as a bad taste on the thumb or fingernail polish. You can then try to replace the security of sucking the numb with a new blanket or teddy bear. If your child is still an infant or a “sleep” thumb sucker you may try mittens or gloves. If none of these measures work, there is a dental appliance to prevent the habit. This is a harmful habit for the natural mouth shape or formation.
9. Why should I be concerned about a pacifier or thumb habit?
Thumbs and pacifiers move the top teeth out of their normal position which cause “bucked” appearance. These habits can also cause a condition called open bite, where teeth meet in back but not in the front. It can also malform the shape of the palate (roof of the mouth). If stopped early enough, the damage caused by these habits may self correct to a degree.
10. Why do you take x-rays on infants, is it harmful?
We take x-rays to assess for cavities, but we can also see the developing permanent teeth. We can tell if the permanent teeth will be crowded or malpositioned. We have the safest, most state of the art dental equipment, which provides a very low exposure to radiation. We also use a lead apron to ensure extra protection.
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