Colorado Kids Pediatric Dentistry is Douglas County's most comprehensive dental practice for children of all ages — infants through adolescents. Early dental care can promote a lifetime of healthy smiles for your child. Dental care for infants can be confusing and daunting, but new parents can expect to navigate through three events during their baby's first year.
Teething
Normally the first tooth erupts between ages 6 to 12 months. Gums are sore, tender, and sometimes irritable until the age of 3 years. Rubbing sore gums gently with a clean finger, the back of a cold spoon, or a cold, wet cloth helps soothe the gums. Teething rings work well, but avoid teething biscuits — they contain sugar that is not good for baby teeth.
While your baby is teething, it is important to monitor the teeth for signs of baby bottle decay. Examine the teeth, especially on the inside (tongue side), every two weeks for dull spots (whiter than the tooth surface) or lines.
A bottle containing anything other than water and left in an infant's mouth while sleeping can cause decay. This happens because sugar in the liquid mixes with bacteria in dental plaque, forming acids that attack the tooth enamel. Each time a child drinks liquids containing sugar, acids attack the teeth for about 20 minutes. When awake, saliva carries away the liquid. During sleep, the saliva flow significantly decreases and liquids pool around the child’s teeth for long periods, covering the teeth in acids.
Your Infant's New Teeth
The primary or "baby" teeth play a crucial role in dental development. Without them, a child cannot chew food properly and has difficulty speaking clearly. Primary teeth are vital to development of the jaws and for guiding the permanent (secondary) teeth into place when they begin to replace the primary teeth around age 6.
Since primary teeth guide the permanent teeth into place, infants with missing primary teeth or infants who prematurely lose primary teeth may require a space maintainer, a device used to hold the natural space open. Without a maintainer, the teeth can tilt toward the empty space and cause permanent teeth to come in crooked.
Missing teeth should always be mentioned to your family dentist.
The way your child cares for his/her primary teeth plays a critical role in how he/she treats the permanent teeth. Children and adults are equally susceptible to plaque and gum problems — hence the need for regular care and dental checkups.
A Child's First Dental Visit
Your child's first dental visit should be scheduled around his/her first birthday. The most important part of the visit is getting to know and becoming comfortable with the doctor and staff. A pleasant, comfortable first visit builds trust and helps put your child at ease during future dental visits. If possible, allow your child to sit in your lap in the exam room. Children should be encouraged to discuss any fears or anxiety they feel.
At Colorado Kids Pediatric Dentistry, our primary goal is to help your child achieve and maintain optimal oral health by using advances in dental techniques and technologies and by keeping their scheduled dental exams frequent and regular.
If you have more questions regarding early dental care or the types of dental services that we offer for children and adolescents, please contact us. We offer comprehensive pediatric dentistry for patients and families near Highlands Ranch, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Littleton, Parker and Centennial. We look forward to helping your child toward a lifetime of healthy smiles!
