your questions about children’s oral health. Have additional questions for us? Visit Frangella Dental on Facebook or Twitter.

Is it okay to give children juice or is the sugar bad for their teeth?

Controlling a child’s diet is important for the prevention of cavities. You’ll want to make sure that your child is receiving the proper nutrition throughout the day but also keep their teeth in mind when doing so. If your child likes to sleep with a bottle, make sure that the bottle only has water in it. Sleeping with a bottle that contains sugary liquids can lead to baby bottle tooth decay. It is important that older children drink plenty of water and limit the amount of sugary beverages they drink including juice, energy drinks, and sodas. They are often full of sugar or can be acidic causing cavities, as well as acid erosion. Crunchy fruits and veggies can help clean a child’s teeth while supplying vitamins and nutrients that are good for your child’s overall health. After your child has a sugary drink, it is a good idea to brush their teeth. If that’s not possible, have them drink or rinse the mouth with water to cleanse the areas that the sugar that was deposited.

How many times a day should kids brush their teeth and with what equipment?

We recommend that children brush their teeth at least twice a day; in the morning and at night. Night time is one of the most important times to brush because all the sugary foods and drink that your child has had during the day are left to sit on the teeth, undisturbed all those hours if not brushed. Infants may not have all their teeth yet. They also don’t know not to swallow toothpaste so we recommend you use a warm towel to wipe gums & teeth rather than brush with a toothbrush. For toddlers and small children, you should brush for them with a soft bristle toothbrush appropriate for their age. Children’s toothbrushes will have age groups listed on them to help you pick the right one. When your child is at the point where he/she will not swallow toothpaste, you can begin having him/her brush with a fluoride toothpaste. As your child gets older, he/she will want to brush his/her own teeth but may not have the proper dexterity to reach all the areas of the mouth and often just do a back and forth motion on the front of the teeth. You should always follow up and brush for them when they’re done. This helps to make sure that the teeth are clean but also continues to reinforce the proper way to brush.

Should I floss my child’s teeth or is that not important until the permanent teeth come in?

We recommend that a parent floss a child’s teeth at least once a day. You may be wondering what there is to floss if there are spaces between the child’s teeth but the most important thing is to get below the gumline, to clean where the toothbrush doesn’t reach. You can pick up flossers specially made for children in local drugstores.

How much fluoride should I give my child? Can flouride be bad for teeth?

Fluorosis is something that can happen if a child is getting too much fluoride for their height and weight during tooth development. Your dentist or general physician will prescribe a fluoride vitamin during these years of development and account for fluoride that is already in your water.

How bad is a pacifier or thumb-sucking?

Children usually give up these habits before the age that adult teeth begin to come in so it has no long lasting dental result. If a child is engaging in these habits while the adult teeth are erupting it can cause them to be malpositioned and pushed forward. Adult teeth begin to erupt in a child around the ages of 5-6 years old, so it is a good idea to try and wean your child off of these habits before then.]]>

Check and see if your child is due for his.her regular appointment. Ideally, they should be seeing a dentist every 6 months for regular cleanings and check-ups.

Teach your child good oral health habits! Children should be brushing their teeth at least twice a day for about 2-3 minutes each time. Kids from 6-9 years old can be the toughest as they don’t yet have the manual dexterity to clean their teeth properly on their own and typically focus solely on brushing the front teeth, yet they want to be independent and do it themselves. You should let them brush and once they’ve given it their best shot you should follow up and make sure they’ve done a good job, especially around those back molars. Electric toothbrushes are great for kids since they have timers that let them know exactly how long they should be brushing

Think through a healthy lunch and snack menu for when school begins. We know it’s easier said than done but since children don’t typically brush their teeth while at school, caretakers need to make sure their lunches and snacks contain healthy and sugar-free ingredients. Lunch bags filled with crunchy vegetables, sugar-free drinks and foods helps with keeping teeth clean and cavity free. Testing out drinks and snacks ahead of time to see which your children will actually enjoy will go a long way.

Get babies and toddlers on the same schedule and make sure if their teeth have erupted that you begin the process of selecting a dentist for them and scheduling their first appointment. The earlier you bring a child to the dentist, the sooner he/she will get accustomed to the environment and learn what to expect at the office and during a check-up.

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your questions about children’s oral health. Have a question for us? Visit Frangella Dental on Facebook.

When should I schedule my child’s first dental appointment? As soon as a child’s teeth begin to erupt, they should start seeing a dentist. The goal is to bring your child early so that he/she gets accustomed to the environment and learns what to expect at the office and during a check-up. It is also important to bring children early so that they can be evaluated for common dental issues such as baby bottle tooth decay and any problems with their bite for early intervention if necessary.

What can we expect at our child’s first dental appointment? The first visit is all about getting acclimated to the dental office. Even if we only get as far as having the child sit in the chair and allow me to look with a mirror, it’s still considered a successful visit. If you start your child at the right age and are performing proper home care, usually they will not need anything other than a routine cleaning and exam. The first dental visit will include a cleaning and dental exam. X-rays typically are not taken until the age of 5 or 6 once the child begins to have eruption of their permanent teeth. It is important to bring your child in every 6 months. This will help prevent future tooth decay but also hopefully get your child so comfortable with the dentist that they are actually excited to visit for their cleanings.

How can I ease my child’s anxiety of visiting the dentist?

It helps if a parent brings the child to one of their own cleanings prior to the child’s, so that he/she knows what to expect and can see the parent comfortable and at ease. A parent should never use going to the dentist as a punishment (i.e. “If you don’t brush your teeth you’re going to go to the dentist and they’re going to give you a shot”). Most importantly, be a good example. Children’s fear of the dentist is often a learned one. If you show you are afraid and anxious, it is likely that they will be afraid and anxious.

How do I choose a dentist that’s right for my child?

When evaluating dentists, you want to find one who regularly treats children. Besides their dental ability, it is equally important to find someone who your child will be comfortable with. The way your child perceives their dentist and dental visit, often sets the tone for how they feel about the dentist as an adult. Therefore it is very important that you find the right doctor for your child. Often, a parent will find a dentist who they themselves are comfortable with and who also regularly treats children in their practice.]]>