Protecting Permanent Teeth

Your child’s teeth are important and it is critical that their permanent teeth are protected. Dr.Anna Lee suggests following these simple rules in order to keep your child’s teeth in great shape for a lifetime.  

·      Avoid sticky and sugary foods.  Some of these foods include cookies, dried figs, granola bars, jelly beans, doughnuts, potato chips, pretzels, cereal, and raisins

·      Avoid sugary drinks such as soda and fruit drinks

·      Avoid skipping regular dental appointments

·      Avoid going days without brushing & flossing

A smile can last a lifetime if they are taking care of it everyday.

Caring For Primary Teeth:

Helping your child care for their primary teeth can be difficult. They may fight to brush their teeth or be afraid when they visit the dentist, or even refuse to floss. But dental health is critical in children. Here are 4 tips Dr. Anna Lee recommends, to help your child take care of their primary teeth.

·      Children younger than 3 years old, should use only a “smear” of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) on the bristles of toothbrush; brush 2x daily

·      Children of 3-6 years old, use pea-size amount of toothpaste; brush 2x daily

·      Children should spit out any excess toothpaste to avoid swallowing it

·      Floss daily

For more information on how to help your child or other dental tips, contact Dr. Lee & her staff today.

Protecting Primary Teeth:

  

 Your child's primarily teeth are significant to their overall dental health. Dr. Anna Lee recommends these tips to help protect these significant teeth. 
 

• Do not put the baby to bed with a bottle of juice or milk
• Talk to the doctor about weaning the infant from the bottle or breast at age 12 to 14 months
• During the day, do not use a bottle to comfort the baby unless it is filled with plain water
• Do not dip the baby’s pacifier in sugar or sugary liquids
• Do not add sugar to the child’s food
• Clean the baby’s teeth and gums with a damp cloth or a soft toothbrush after each feeding
• Try not to share saliva with the baby through common use of feeding utensils
• Take the baby to the dentist as soon as the first tooth comes in, or no later than the first birthday
• Teach the baby to drink from a cup by his or her first birthday
• Make sure the baby is getting the right amount of fluoride

For more information on how to protect and keep your child's primary teeth, contact Dr. Anna Lee & her team today. 

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) or Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (BBTD) What is it?

Unfortunately, babies are not free from the possibility of decay. Tooth decay in babies and toddlers is often referred to as Early Childhood Caries (ECC) or Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (BBTD).  It is a common bacterial infectious disease caused by certain types of bacteria that live in the mouth.  Bacteria feed on sugar and produce acids that attack and destroy the tooth’s outer surface (enamel).  The end result is cavities.  Babies and toddlers who go to sleep with a bottle containing milk, breast milk, or fruit juices are more susceptible to having ECC/BBTD.

Tooth decay is also a transmissible disease.  Mothers with untreated cavities have higher levels of bacteria in their mouth and are more likely to pass bacteria to their children through kissing or using the same eating utensils.

In order to protect them from bottle tooth decay after they have consumed milk products you can use a towel to wipe excess milk from their gums.  

For more information on baby bottle tooth decay contact Dr. Anna Lee & her team.

Children’s Smile and Dental Care

Your children’s smile brings you joy.  The best way to keep your child’s smile healthy is to begin dental care early in life. Teaching good habits of brushing and flossing of their teeth early in life keeps teeth healthy.  Healthy teeth help your children chew and enjoy food, help build self-esteem and create healthy smiles!

Begin Dental Care Early in Life

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends parents take children to a dentist no later than their first birthday.   Parents can start to provide dental care for their babies, toddlers and older children at home:

·      Begin cleaning the baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean washcloth

·      Baby’s front four teeth erupt at about 6 months of age (some children have their first tooth at 12-14 months); 

·      Brush twice daily with an infant toothbrush

·      Floss daily when baby teeth touch each other

·      For children younger than 3 years old, use only a “smear” of fluoridated toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) on the bristles of toothbrush; brush 2x daily.  Parents continue the supervision and remind the child not to swallow the toothpaste

·      For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste and brush 2x daily.  Parents continue the supervision and remind the child not to swallow the toothpaste

·      After age 6, continue to brush and floss the children’s teeth daily until parents are comfortable that the child can brush on his or her own

                              Contact Dr. Anna Lee & her team today for more information.