Childrens' Dentistry

Protecting children's teeth starts before the first milk tooth appears. Children's gums should be cleaned using a soft cloth after every feed to prevent bacterial build-up. When the child advances to solid food, they should clean their teeth twice daily using a pea sized amount of toothpaste on a soft bristled brush. Parents should avoid giving children sugary drinks or fruit juices while they are being bottle fed to avoid baby-bottle-tooth-decay.

Teething

When a babies teeth first begin to come through the jaw the baby will be irritable. Teething usually occurs between the ages of 6-24months. Below are tips recommended by pediatric dentists to ease the pain of teething:
1.Rub gums with an antibacterial teething ointment
2.Allow the baby to suck on a cold teething ring or wet towel
3.Massage the gums around the tooth

Parent's are advised to discourage thumb sucking in children which can lead to crooked teeth and prevent the gums developing correctly.

Orthodontics

Children routinely require orthodontic treatment as their gums develop. Common orthodontic problems in children are mis-positioning of teeth that causes problems with the childs' bite; especially common is the top set of teeth not aligning correctly with the bottom teeth or the jaw being too crowded. Untreated orthodontic problems in children can lead to problems chewing, crooked teeth and pain in the jaw. Many children require tooth extraction to make more room in the gum.

Pediatric dentists often recommend braces for children to train teeth into position, keeping them straight as they erupt into the gum. It is not uncommon for babies to be born with teeth. These teeth are known as neonatal teeth and are not harmful to the future dental health of a child, however it is recommended that dentists remove these teeth to prevent children swallowing them if they come loose.

Children's dental appointments

Pediatric dentists recommend children have their first dental check at the age of one year, around the time milk teeth start appearing in the gum. Children's dental appointments include x-rays to ensure teeth are growing properly underneath the gum and there no underlying problems, soft cleaning to remove any plaque and bacteria build up and check for signs of early tooth cavities.