What should I do if my child grinds or clenches his teeth?
With younger children, this is most often not a serious concern. The primary teeth are very flat and it is easy for the child to expend nervous energy by grinding. In many cases, this habit will disappear as the permanent teeth erupt into the mouth. Older children present a different situation and sometimes require the construction of a protective appliance for the permanent teeth. In either the older child or the younger child, it is important to make sure there is no damage occurring and the teeth should be examined for excess wear.
When should I take my child to see Dr. Fales for the first visit?
Children should have their first visit with Dr. Fales between 12 and 18 months of age.
How should I clean my baby’s teeth?
A toothbrush designed for infants is the best thing to use to clean the teeth. This should be done by an adult after each meal or feeding. Washcloths and sponges should not be used, as they do not effectively clean the teeth or the space between the teeth and gums.
What is the difference between a general or family dentist and a pediatric dentist?
The pediatric dentist is the pediatrician of dentistry. The pediatric dentist has two to three years of advanced training beyond dental school. Pediatric dentists limit their practice to primary care for infants, children and adolescents, including those with special needs.
Why are baby teeth important to my child?
The pathway that is created by the baby teeth aids the eruption of the permanent teeth. Primary teeth are necessary for proper chewing of food, which allows the child to have a nutritious diet. Good health and growth depends on good nutrition. Speech development is aided by proper position of teeth.
How can I prevent decay caused by nursing or baby bottles?
Never nurse your child to sleep or put him or her to bed with a bottle. Always clean your child’s teeth with a toothbrush after nursing or a bottle. Schedule your child’s first dental visit between 12 and 18 months of age.
How often should my child see a pediatric dentist?
For most children, visits for an exam should be no more than six months apart. Decay can be very aggressive. Exercising good daily hygiene practices and seeing Dr. Fales twice a year can prevent major problems.
Are pacifier or thumb-sucking habits harmful for my child’s teeth and mouth?
Pacifier and thumb-sucking habits are usually only a problem if they continue for a long period of time or are vigorous. Many children will stop these habits on their own. If dental bite changes are noted, a behavior modification program or appliance may be recommended by Dr. Fales.
What should I do if my child has a toothache?
Children’s acetaminophen or children’s ibuprofen can be given for discomfort. Sometimes, a cold compress applied to a swollen cheek will bring relief. Avoid extreme temperatures when eating and contact Dr. Fales as soon as possible. Never place aspirin directly on the gums.
When should we begin using toothpaste for our child and what kind should we use?
Parents should always supervise toothpaste use and should begin using fluoridated toothpaste beginning around age 2-3 years. A pea-sized amount should be placed on a soft bristle toothbrush sized for the child. Parents should brush their child’s teeth at least once a day and the teeth should be brushed after every time the child eats. The excess toothpaste should be rinsed after brushing and should never be swallowed.
What are sealants and how do they work?
A dental sealant is a plastic coating applied to the biting surface of the back teeth. It works by filling the grooves of the teeth. This prevents food debris and bacteria from getting caught in the grooves and causing decay. Placing sealants is fast and generally easy and protects the teeth for many years.
How safe are dental X-rays?
Dental X-rays are very safe. Using digital X-ray equipment and protective aprons will limit the amount of radiation your child is exposed to. Digital X-rays can produce a useable image with as little as 10% of the radiation used for traditional film based X-rays. Dr. Fales is particularly careful to limit the radiographs taken to only those necessary to provide useful diagnostic information.
How can I help prevent tooth decay?
Begin by setting a good example. Encourage eating a healthy, sensible diet, limiting sugar consumption and avoiding constant snacking. Brushing after eating is something that can be practiced together, parent and child. Children should have visits to Fales Pediatric Dentistry at six-month intervals where specific home dental care programs can be recommended by Dr. Fales.
Why is fluoride important and how do I know how much my child is getting?
Many municipal water supplies supplement the fluoride content of the water to achieve optimum levels. If you are unsure, test kits are available for purchase from our office to determine the level of fluoride in your water supply. If levels are below the optimum, supplements can be prescribed.
What should I do if my child knocks out a tooth?
Stay calm! Find the missing tooth and place in a cool liquid, preferably water or milk. Do not rinse or scrub the tooth and try to handle the tooth by touching only the crown, never the root. Contact Dr. Fales immediately.
How can I protect my child’s teeth during sporting activities?
Soft, cushioned plastic mouth guards can be used to protect the child’s teeth, gums, tongue and cheeks. These can be purchased in most sporting goods stores and fitted at home. A custom fitted mouth guard can be fabricated by Dr. Fales and is recommended for more violent contact sports. Remember that almost any active child can be a victim of mouth trauma and mouth guard use can never be excessive.
What should I do if my child breaks a tooth?
Stay calm! Attempt to recover any pieces of the tooth and place in a cool liquid such as water or milk. Protect the injured area. Call Dr. Fales immediately.
What should I do if my child breaks an orthodontic appliance or has a broken wire?
Only remove the appliance if it is easily removed. Cover sharp or protruding edges with wax, cotton or chewing gum. If a wire or appliance is caught in the gums or cheek, do not attempt removal. Call Dr. Fales immediately.
What should I do if my child has cut her tongue, lip or cheek?
Apply firm but gentle, steady pressure to the injured area with sterile or clean cotton. If the bleeding does not stop within 20 minutes or is not able to be controlled with pressure, call Dr. Fales or go to a hospital emergency room.
How do I control the bleeding after a baby tooth falls out?
Apply firm, gentle, steady pressure to the area with sterile or clean cotton for at least 20 minutes.
What should I do if my child has mouth sores, fever blisters or canker sores?
Over-the-counter medications can provide temporary relief from these problems. A bland diet and good tooth brushing is also important in controlling discomfort.
When will my baby begin to get teeth?
Most babies will get their first teeth at around 6 to 9 months. These are usually the lower central incisors. Soon after, the upper central incisors will appear. By 2 to 3 years of age, all 20 primary teeth should be present.
Why are the permanent teeth darker or more yellow than the baby teeth?
Permanent teeth are naturally darker than baby teeth. This is magnified by the simple fact that the permanent teeth are much larger and thicker than the baby teeth and light does not pass through them as easily. In addition, in most situations, you are comparing them side-by-side to the whiter, smaller baby teeth.
Will my child have bad permanent teeth if the baby teeth have a lot of cavities?
If the cavities in the baby teeth are left untreated, the decay can cause problems significant enough to affect the permanent teeth. In addition, decay is contagious and will spread to other teeth in the mouth, including newly erupted permanent teeth.
My child has a ‘double row of front teeth.’ Why did this happen and what should be done for this?
Sometimes the permanent teeth are slightly misaligned and erupt offset from the baby teeth they are to replace. Dr. Fales will most often recommend that lower baby teeth be left until they naturally exfoliate, unless they are uncomfortable. This way, they can act as space maintainers, occupying the space the new permanent incisors will occupy. In most situations an evaluation is recommended to determine the best course of action for that particular situation.
What causes decay, and what is it?
Decay is the breakdown of the tooth structure where the hard tissues of the tooth become soft and weak. Bacteria that live in the mouth cause it. The bacteria form a sticky layer on the teeth called plaque. Bacteria need food and the most readily available is any food containing sugars. The bacteria eat the sugars and produce acid as a waste product. It is this acid that causes the breakdown of the tooth enamel. If allowed to continue, the enamel breaks down until a hole is created and a cavity appears.
Why should decay on baby teeth be filled? They are going to be lost anyway.
Baby teeth are important to every child. They are lost naturally at various ages beginning around age 6. Some, however, will be useful until as late as age 12 or even longer. Neglecting the baby teeth can lead to dental decay, pain, infection of the teeth, gums and even the jaws. Loss of teeth can lead to loss of space, orthodontic problems and overall health concerns. Decay is contagious and if left untreated, will spread from one tooth to another.
Is Dr. Fales an orthodontist?
Dr. Fales is licensed in the state of Kansas and Missouri as a pediatric dentist.