This post has been updated. Please check out the new post February 2018
Parents often ask us when they should start taking their kids to the dentist.
Parents often ask us when they should start taking their kids to the dentist.
Believe it or not, the current recommendation is now that your child should have his or her first dental visit by age one.
In California,
about one third of preschoolers have dental decay. It is much easier
to prevent decay in toddlers' teeth than to fill a cavity in a young
child. Although tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood
disease, it can be prevented.
As parents, we may think, "Baby teeth fall out, so we don't need to worry
about them." This sounds logical, but unfortunately is not true.
Luckily, dental science has found out many new facts about how to
prevent dental decay. We now know that bacteria causes tooth decay.
This "bad" bacteria can find its way into your babies mouths in many
ways. Eating foods high in sugar is one of the most obvious offenders.
In order to prevent decay in our adult teeth, baby teeth have to be kept
healthy as well.
What can you do to keep your child's teeth healthy, right from the start?
For the youngest babies with brand new teeth you can wipe them off with a soft piece of gauze or a wet wash cloth.
Not
only are you cleaning off the teeth, (breast milk does have sugar) but
you are getting the baby used to a routine. Training your child from the
start that teeth get brushed is a wonderful way to created good dental
habits that will last a lifetime.
Other options
Spiffies,: These are little flavored towelettes specially formulated for wiping baby teeth
Soft finger brush: These fit over your finger and if you baby will let you, allow you to get in there and do a nice thorough job
Toothbrush: Make sure it has soft bristles, replace when it looks like the bristles are getting worn.
The old recommendation was to use
non fluoride toothpaste until kids were two. The new suggestion is to use a tiny amount( grain of rice
size) of fluoride toothpaste. It is important to note that too
much can be harmful so keep the amount tiny. Once kids get to be over two, you can use a pea sized amount.
http://www.healthychildren.
http://www2.aap.org/
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dph/
FINDING A DENTIST
Find a dentist that treats very young children and bring your child to
his or her first appointment when the first teeth erupt - no later than
by age one. During the visit, the dentist will check your child for
dental decay and talk to you about cleaning your baby's teeth. They
might also talk to you about proper nutrition for keeping baby teeth
healthy.
If
you have any concerns about the manner in which the teeth are
erupting, having a dentist who is familiar with your child will be very
useful.
Another
important thing to think about is that having a dentist can come in
very handy if you happen to have any dental emergencies. Kids have
accidents! It is not unusual for me to get calls about chipped or loose
teeth after a fall. I usually suggest that they contact their dentist on
those occasions, and the folks that already have one are way ahead of
the game.
Some
parents avoid taking children to the dentist to save money, yet studies
show that the dental costs for children who have their first dental
visit before the age of one are 40 percent lower in the first five years
of life than for those who do not see a dentist before their first
birthday.
Do consider this when deciding whether or not to add your child to your dental plan (if you are lucky enough to have one)
We are fortunate to have lots of excellent choices in our city.
Below is a partial list of dentists who we send patients to.
If someone is conveniently located or is on your insurance plan that is certainly worth consideration.
David Rothman 333-6811
Dr Rothman is over on Ocean avenue near Stonestown
He was my kid's dentist and they loved him. He is an excellent dentist with a wonderful sense of humor.
His office is able to do procedures under general anesthesiology in the office if needed.
His office is able to do procedures under general anesthesiology in the office if needed.
Bergen James, Doris Lin-Song and Jennifer Yu 668-3500
They are located on Parker Street near Laurel Village
Claudia Masouredis 753-2777
Dr Masouredis is fairly close to our office, just up the hill on Portola.
Nurse Jen brings her kids here and they adore her.
Nurse Jen brings her kids here and they adore her.
Dorothy Pang 681-8500
Dr Pang is on Taraval and 18th in the Sunset.
One
of the things that sets her apart is that she is affiliated with the
UCSF dental school. If someone needs a dental procedure under
anesthesiology she can do this at UCSF rather than in the office.
Noe Valley smiles and Braces 678-5445
These folks are right here on 24th street. They recently were a wonderful resource for some of our patients who had after hours dental emergencies
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Help
your child keep their shining healthy smile! If you need assistance in
finding a dentist, or low-cost children's health insurance in San
Francisco, please call the Women and Children's' Health Referral Line @ 1-800-300-9950.
RECAP Tips for Healthy Teeth
- Take your child to a dentist twice a year; starting by age one
- Brush your child's teeth everyday; as soon as they come in
- Make those snacks healthy ones: fruits, cheese, vegetables, nut butters, etc.
- Take care of your own teeth; adults can spread cavity-causing bacteria to children
- Never let your baby have a bottle or cup in bed that has anything other than water
Special Thanks to Margaret Fisher from the CHDP program for all of her information and support!