Baby’s First Visit

Your baby’s first visit is a simple visual exam to evaluate your child’s oral health and to determine his/her risk for developing dental disease. A gentle prophy cleaning is performed if your child is inclined to try it, and fluoride may be applied. Usually, no X-rays are taken at this appointment.

Feel confident about your child’s care as our dentist also looks for both common and uncommon infant oral conditions that you may not have heard of, such as: tongue-tie, missing teeth, abnormal teeth, inclusion cysts, natal teeth, iron stain, and more.

You will receive guidance to help you prevent potential problems, including dental disease, in your child’s future. Along the way, feel free to ask any questions you may have about your child’s new teeth and their oral health. Let your infant become familiar with the dental office setting in a positive way.

Your cooperation is appreciated. Remember good habits, and good dental health depends on proper brushing, on regular dental visits, and on a good diet. These points and others can be thoroughly discussed during your child’s appointment.

Baby Wellness

When can I expect my child's pearly whites to arrive?
When your baby was born, all 20 primary teeth were already present and developing in his/her jawbones. The first tooth to arrive is usually the lower front incisor, which erupts into the mouth at around six months of age (though it could be earlier or later). In fact, a few babies are born with lower front teeth, which are called natal teeth.
What should I do when my child is teething?
Be prepared to deal with your child’s first oral event…teething! It usually happens without problem and is a completely natural occurrence. However, during the time your infant’s teeth start to come in, your child may become restless and fretful. Your baby may also start to excessively salivate and to exhibit the desire to put hands and fingers into his/her mouth. Relieve your baby or child with the following: a clean teething ring; a cool spoon; a cold, wet washcloth; or a toothbrush. If your infant has a fever, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, or other unusual problem, those symptoms may not be related to teething. In that case, consult your family physician as soon as possible to rule out any other common diseases and conditions of infancy.
What should I do about pacifiers or thumb-sucking?
Thumb-sucking is a habit that often starts while your child is still in the womb. It is a natural instinct that helps prepare your infant for nursing. Infants and young children often use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers, or other available objects to satisfy their sucking needs. This can give your child a sense of security, happiness, and relaxation that can even lull them to sleep.

Most children quit their thumb/pacifier-sucking by age four, or at least by school age (due to peer pressure). At this stage, any dental problems (tooth movement, jaw-shape changes) that have resulted from your child’s sucking habit will usually correct on their own. If your child’s thumb-sucking or pacifier use continues past five years of age (or when permanent teeth arrive), full self-correction is far less likely, and there are possibly other issues that should be explored that may be perpetuating the habit. Stress may exacerbate the thumb-sucking problem, therefore, scolding your child for thumb-sucking is not recommended. It is better to use positive reinforcement to motivate your child to quit the habit. Finding and eliminating the source of stress can also be helpful.

Other helpful tips to prevent decay in children:

  • Breastfeeding – wean your children from the bottle and breast at 12-14 months of age.
  • Sippy cup beverages – don’t let your child walk around during the day with a sippy cup filled with anything but water.
  • Night time drinks – don’t give your child any beverages at bedtime or during the night except for water when necessary
  • Juice – don’t allow your child to drink more than 4-6 oz. of juice per day. Serving them the fruit instead of the juice is a better option.
  • Pacifiers – never dip a pacifier into honey or into anything sweet before giving it to a baby.
  • Cleaning infant’s gums – after feedings, wipe your infant’s gums with a clean, damp cloth or with a baby “finger” brush (even before the first teeth erupt).
  • Brushing teeth for children up to two years of age – once teeth appear, brush with a soft toothbrush twice a day once after breakfast and again before bedtime. Use only fluoride-free toothpaste at this age. Most infants under the age of two have not yet learned to “spit out” after brushing, and excessive swallowing of toothpaste can damage the adult teeth that are still growing under the gums at this time. Your baby can be placed with his/her head on your lap (with their legs facing away from you) in order to facilitate cleaning.

One-year-old exams

Like any parent, you worry about your child’s health, and it is important to remember their oral health as well. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that you take your child to the dentist by his or her first birthday. While it may seem a bit early for your child to receive dental treatment, it’s important to remember that baby teeth are essentially place-holders for adult teeth that are soon to come.

A lifetime of happy smiles starts at year one. Schedule your baby’s one-year dental appointment today, and give your child a healthy start.

2-5 Years of Age

When your child is between the ages of 2-5, you should brush your preschooler’s teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste…once after breakfast and once at night immediately before bedtime.
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Our entire family sees Dr. Tauschek and we love his team of hygienists! We’ve been at Maple Grove for over a decade. The team has built a trust and rapport with our young boys, while teaching them how to care for their teeth and why it’s so important. We’re always able to get appointments that work in our family’s busy schedule. I highly recommend Dr. Tauschek and his team for dental care!

– Sarah S.

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