My decision to create this site was made because of the many questions I get as a dentist from parents regarding their children’s oral health. It seems that many of the “What to Expect ” books and childcare guides omit something very critical in raising and caring for children. A subject that is so simple but so easily dismissed as common knowledge or topics that your pediatrician will discuss with you. Unfortunately, most pediatricians know VERY LITTLE about the dental health of your child. So, this leaves many parents wondering if they are providing adequate dental care for their children. Too often this lack of knowledge causes irreversible damage to their kid’s teeth and a serious dent in their wallets.

I hope you find the information on this site to be a  mildly humorous, very informative, myth-busting, easy to understand guide that should help you feel confident that you are on the right track with your child’s oral health. My other hope is that this knowledge will allow you to save money when it can be saved, and to spend it when it really needs to be spent.

These questions were chosen because they are by far the most common I receive at the dental office or more often, when I am at social functions for my own kids! The answers are then provided in a way which I think just about everyone can understand. I hope after reading some of these posts, you find yourself empowered and fully informed.
I hear all of these questions far too often, which leads me to believe that there is a serious lack of knowledge on the subject. Since dental decay in children is the #1 childhood disease, it is very important that parents are well educated on the subject. I feel strongly that we can better help the future of our children if we can share the knowledge to prevent these dental problems. These problems are far too often physically, mentally and financially challenging for parents and children, both short and long term. So, my hope is that after you find something useful or helpful, you feel confident in sharing the vital information with others so that they too can avoid some of the costly or worrisome situations.
You may also have friends in your social circle with younger children who may have questions that you will now feel confident answering for them. Even though you may only have a teenager now, life can be full of many unplanned miracles-so it is always better to be prepared now! Whatever the reason, share the knowledge with your friends and family.

This is a common concern among parents and has a fairly simple response. In general, your pediatrician will recommend that you plan on discontinuing the use of a bottle by age one. There is, of course, a little flexibility with this so that the child can undergo a relatively smooth transition to the use of a sippy-cup.

Every child is different in their need for that warm bottle of instant comfort. It is indeed an amazing cure-all for infant displeasure, but like all addictions, it isn’t easy to stop. Other children will give it up easily, gladly welcoming the new benefits of becoming a toddler. Most child-rearing books, like the “What to Expect” series, will give you tips and tricks of how to wean both the bottle and the pacifier. My biggest advice would be to start sooner rather than later, especially if you have a strong-willed child.

If you are successful in weaning both the pacifier and the bottle around 12 months, then you have no concern that either one will affect the orthodontic relationship of your child’s teeth. If you go much beyond this time frame, then it is possible that you may have some future orthodontic problems. Again, there is leeway with this, and in general we say that most of the permanent effects occur if the child has not completely stopped by age four. Of course I assume that your four year old is not drinking out of a bottle anymore, so I am speaking particularly about the use of a pacifier. If your four year old is still drinking from a bottle, you are way overdue for a crisis intervention!

The other big concern to be aware of is that, the pacifier can also cause trauma to the child’s gums. This can cause painful ulcers but can also cause the gums to recede from the tooth. This can cause many problems including gum damage for the soon erupting permanent tooth, tooth decay of the baby-tooth or painful root exposure. Your child may experience mild to severe sensitivity to hot and cold foods or even just when the air from speaking passes by the area where the gums have receded. Adults experience this too, but generally it is not caused by the use of a pacifier! There are many causes for adults, but the end result is the same resulting in sensitivity, pain or possible loss of the tooth from becoming loose. So again, stop the habit early, as it will be better for everyone!

Okay. I am a parent also, so let’s be real. Despite some of my best and most deceptive efforts (bribery included), there are still things I just cannot get my two-foot tall bosses to do. Some try money. Others try candy. Others just try discipline. Yet, the thumb prevails over all. So then what? Well, unfortunately for your child (but fortunately for you), there is an alternative. If they don’t stop by age four, a trip to your dentist is recommended. You see, we have a special device made to cure thumb-sucking. It’s not pretty and it doesn’t hurt, but it will work. The appliance is called a “palatal crib” or “thumb-sucking appliance.”

The appliance looks a little like a medieval dental retainer but is painless. It is cemented to the child’s top teeth and spans the width of the roof of the mouth (also known as the hard palate). The smooth wire that makes that span does not allow the thumb to make the suction that is needed to perform the sucking motion. Voila! No gratification in sucking anymore. Eventually, (sometimes a few weeks or months) the child will no longer have the desire/addiction to suck their thumb or fingers and the appliance is easily removed. If your regular dentist is not comfortable making or placing this appliance, they may refer you to a pediatric dentist.
 

The appliance of course, should be your last resort. Your child-rearing books again are filled with a multitude of tactics and tricks, depending on your parenting style. Try a few and see what works best for your child. Some will recommend positive reinforcement or discipline while others will recommend a terrible tasting, harmless potion to place on the thumb or finger. Since each child is so different, what may work for one may not work for another. So, you will just have to be patient and persistent until you find what works for you!

If this is your first child, please pay close attention! This is a great time to conquer something in your child rearing that few others have! Children do not have access to sweets, sodas or juices without YOU. So this is the time to make your mark on your child’s health. Kids do not know what they are missing out on if they are never given it in the first place. Both of my boys were never given juice or soda as a toddler. Not because I was mean (I am-but that’s not the reason why) but because I knew once I introduced it, it would be almost impossible to control it.

As both a dentist and a mommy, I get many questions about teething both at the office and in my own circle of friends. As a first time parent, many areas of parenting and childcare seem like such a mystery. We struggle our best by trial and error and constantly wonder if the question or problem really requires us to take a trip to the pediatrician. Do we want to shell out a co-pay or “wait it out” and see if the problem resolves on its own?

Well, my hope is that I can provide you with a little relief in this area child-rearing. Babies go through so many changes so quick, baby teething can bring about difficulties that feel like an eternity! Just when your bundle is finally sleeping through the night and you are settling in to the groove of being a new parent, the process throws you a new curve ball. Around 6-7 months, you may find your baby acquires some peculiar behavior and not all of it is enjoyable!

In general, the process of baby teeth begins at 3-4 months old, despite the fact that a tooth may not appear for several months after this. The baby teeth start their ascent into the mouth during this time and parents may notice some of the following behaviors in their infant: Excessive drooling, crankiness, biting and sticking objects in their mouths, coughing or colds, cheek or ear-pulling and unfortunately, night waking! While all of these can be signs baby teething, they can also be signs of other problems, so when in doubt, don’t be afraid to call your pediatrician-that’s what they are there for!

As these new baby teeth make their way in, they typically cause a lot of pressure and discomfort inside the gums. This process can cause crankiness and irritability and even cause baby to wake up at night in a crabby mood. It isn’t abnormal to have baby wake up crying or whimpering at night, only to attempt a bottle with no success. Sometimes they may even take the bottle only to fall right asleep without drinking much.

Babies often try to relieve this pressure during the day by chewing on any object they can fit in their mouth, including their hands. In addition, this grand appearance of teeth very much stimulates saliva flow, causing baby to drool excessively. All of these habits can cause other issues and strange behavior for baby. Excessive drooling during baby teething can cause a rash on the chin as well as stimulate the coughing and gagging reflex. They may also experience discomfort that is referred to the ears or cheeks.

The rashes are not usually a problem unless you find the rash to be causing pain, has open sores or bleeding. If this occurs, see your pediatrician for medicated creams to help heal the area and make baby comfortable again.

While ear and cheek pulling can be a sign of baby teething, it can also be a sign of an ear infection. My kids have had their fair share of ear infections and they can be such a frustrating experience. I have noticed ear and cheek pulling from baby teething to be pretty infrequent but not impossible. So, my suggestion would be that if you see this behavior, especially if accompanied with a fever, have your child evaluated by the pediatrician. Ear infections can be a very painful experience with possible complications and should not be “waited out.”

The drooling may also cause loose or runny bowel movements, but generally not diarrhea. If your baby has diarrhea lasting more than a day, call your pediatrician. While baby is trying to relieve pressure by putting object and fingers into their mouth, they unfortunately can be introducing unwanted germs into their bodies. So, you may notice and increase in colds or illnesses which may cause mild fevers or diarrhea. Fevers are not believed to be from teething directly, but are thought to be from the “bugs” that babies expose themselves to while going through the baby teething process.

So, how can you help your precious baby through this tough time which can last for months? Baby teething rings and toys or cold foods are a good start. Be sure that they are foods your baby is normally able to eat without choking! You can also gently massage the gums with your own fingers but please be sure to wash your hands first! Baby Orajel can be used, however, as a dentist I can tell you that unless you dry the area of gums completely before applying, it really will not work-you’ll only be providing bad taste and a numb tongue! So, if you can dry the area well, and your pediatrician has given you the recommendation to use it, then see if it works for your baby. Infant Tylenol or acetaminophen is another great option when baby is having a really difficult time during baby teething. However, before giving your baby any kind of medicine, always consult your pediatrician and be sure that you give the proper dosage for your child.