We are often asked “Why are my child’s baby teeth important if they are going to fall out anyway?” 

In fact, your child’s primary (baby) teeth are very important.  Primary teeth hold the position for the permanent teeth.  Premature loss often causes shifting and crowding of permanent teeth.  Orthodontic treatment can usually correct crowding but we would rather avoid the problem altogether. 

Equally important, your child’s primary teeth are more fragile than permanent teeth.  The enamel is very thin.  A little decay can progress rapidly into the nerve of the tooth in as little as six to twelve months.  One missed hygiene appointment can prevent us from early detection of decay on baby teeth and can result in unnecessary problems.  All of this is preventable with early diagnosis. 

In addition, infections from primary teeth can spread into the bone and damage or discolor the developing permanent tooth underneath. 

Unfortunately, we are finding that many local communities have discontinued adding fluoride to the drinking water due to budgetary constraints.  Children are getting more decay than a decade ago. 

Treatment of primary teeth is not complicated – they are treated much the same as a permanent tooth.  We simply remove the decay and place a white composite (non-mercury) filling.  Dentists in our office are trained in the latest techniques to make your child’s appointments a pleasant experience. 

We recommend bringing your child for their first dental appointment at age 3, when all their baby teeth have erupted.  

Early Detection of Decay in Permanent Teeth

On every hygiene appointment we check your child’s teeth for surface decay that is common when their six year and twelve year molars come in.  Early detection allows us to do very conservative fillings on those teeth that have early decay in the deep grooves.  

Prenatal Dental Care

A mother's diet influences the calcification of the unborn child's bone and teeth.  There is a strong relationship between a mother's lack of proper nutrition and nutrition and developmental defects of teeth.  Proper nutrition is very important.

Dental Care for Infants

Cleaning the Mouth:   A parent should clean the baby's mouth after nursing.  When the first tooth does appear, the infant will be familiar with the mother cleaning his/her mouth.  Often, when the parent waits for the first tooth appears, cleaning the mouth becomes a new experience and sometimes the child does not accept it willingly.

Baby Bottle Syndrome:  Bottle feeding for extended periods of time often leads to advanced decay at a very early age.  Sugars in milk, formula, or juice can result in advanced decay within just a few short weeks.  Avoid night time bottles.

Fluoride:  Fluoride taken by a pregnant mother does not reach the unborn baby and therefore is not indicated.  In nonfluoridated communities, fluoride drops are recommended two weeks after birth.  However, a family living in a fluoridated community using only nonfluoridated bottled water for cooking and drinking, should ask their family physician about taking fluoride supplements.

Young Children

Brushing and Flossing:  Once a child is able to brush, parents should still provide active supervision until age 9 or 10 years.  Further, when the teeth grow together, flossing becomes the only way to remove plaque in between the teeth and it is important that the parent takes this responsibility.  A floss aid from a local pharmacy may be helpful.

Thumbsucking and Pacifiers:  Pacifiers are generally preferred only because it is easier to "lose" the pacifier than the thumb.  However, parents should avoid attempting to break any sucking habit prior to age 4 or 5 years and then should only use positive reinforcement.  There are many ways to help the child stop sucking and we will be happy to recommend a method for your child.