What should I use to clean my baby’s teeth?
A toothbrush will remove plaque, bacteria that can lead to decay. Any soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head should be used after eruption of teeth. But right from birth gums should be cleaned with wet gauze after every time you feed milk.

When should I take my child to the dentist for the first check-up?
Your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than his/her first birthday.

What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist?
Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two to three years specialty training for treating children only. Pediatric dentists are primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health needs.
They can always guide you correctly to maintain healthy milk teeth and also detect any abnormalities in early stage. This will avoid much bigger problems that may arise in future.

Are milk teeth really that important to my child?
Primary, or “baby,” or milk teeth are important. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt.
Decay of milk teeth may spread the infection to permanent tooth buds present beneath. And your kids may develop completely damaged permanent teeth.

What should I do if my child has a toothache?
First, rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. , see a pediatric dentist as soon as possible.

Are thumb sucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child’s teeth?
Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers past the age of three, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your pediatric dentist.
What are effects of mouth breathing and how do we recognize this problem in our children?
Mouth breathing generally happens when child is sleeping and he keeps his mouth open. 1st sign of mouth breathing are severe black stain on surfaces of their teeth, even after repeated cleaning, they keep re-surfacing.
It is dangerous habit in children because when the mouth is open, there are chances of allowing more microbes into the mouth leading to severe infections and lung problems. Mouth becomes very dry which lead to more cavities.
Refer your child to pediatric dentist to get habit corrected immediately.

How can I prevent decay caused by bottle feeding?
Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bed-time bottle. Also, learn the proper way to brush and floss your child’s teeth. Take your child to a pediatric dentist regularly to have his/her teeth and gums checked. The first dental visit should be scheduled by your child’s first birthday.
Do not leave the milk bottle in their mouth for longer time.

How often does my child need to see the pediatric dentist?
A check-up every six months is recommended in order prevent cavities and other dental problems. However, your pediatric dentist can tell you when and how often your child should visit based on their personal oral health.

Toothpaste: when should we begin using it and how much should we use?
The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. As soon as the teeth begin to appear, start brushing twice daily using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft, age-appropriate sized toothbrush.
Use a “smear” of toothpaste to brush the teeth of a child 2 years of age and younger.
For the 3-6 year old, dispense a “pea-size” amount of toothpaste and perform or assist your child’s tooth brushing.
Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.

How do I make my child’s diet safe for his teeth?
Make sure your child has a balanced diet, including one serving each of: fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat fish and eggs. Limiting the servings of sugars and starches will also aid in protecting your child’s teeth from decay. You can also ask your pediatric dentist to help you select foods that protect your children’s teeth.

How do dental sealants work?
Sealants work by filling in the irregularities on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years.

How does Fluoride application help my child?
Fluoride will bind with phosphate present in the teeth and form much stronger defense layer against the microbes than calcium.

What can I do to protect my child’s teeth during sporting events?
Soft plastic mouth guards can be used to protect a child’s teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sport related injuries. A custom-fitted mouth guard developed by a pediatric dentist will protect your child from injuries to the teeth, face and even provide protection from severe injuries to the head.

What should I do if my child falls and knocks out a permanent tooth?
The most important thing to do is to stay calm. Then find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to reinsert it in the socket. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child and the glass immediately to the pediatric dentist.

How safe are dental X-rays?
There is very little risk in dental X-rays. Pediatric dentists are especially careful to limit the amount of radiation to which children are exposed. Lead aprons and high-speed film are used to ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation.

Why does the pediatric dentist advice root canal treatment for milk tooth when it’s temporary?
Infection from milk tooth can spread to the permanent teeth present at the tip of roots of milk teeth before coming out. This will cause damage of permanent teeth too.
If milk teeth are removed instead of root canal treatment, the space for permanent tooth will be closed completely so permanent tooth will never come out. Milk teeth are guiding path for eruption of permanent teeth.

Why is capping the teeth compulsory after root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment will weaken the tooth and make it brittle. This will lead to fracture of teeth when strong forces are applied on the tooth, capping will help the child to chew comfortably.

What is a space maintainer?
When the milk tooth is damaged beyond repair and falls of early, the teeth has to be removed. Missing milk tooth will lead to gap closure and permanent teeth will not have space to come out.
So a band is placed around the space to hold the space for permanent teeth to come out perfectly.
This appliance can be removed by pediatric dentist when you see the permanent teeth coming out.

How can parents help prevent tooth decay?
Parents should take their children to the dentist regularly, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. Then, the dentist can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their children. These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.