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Baby’s First Tooth
By Dr. John N. Dane, D.D.S.
Grandchildren are a joy. Everyone should have one. Being a grandparent allows us to relive the little milestones of our grandchildren that we experienced as parents, from their first word, first step and even their first tooth. As a grandparent, I was so excited to discover my granddaughter, Annabelle, has four new teeth! They are perfect and I hope they can stay that way. While many factors affect good dental health, it is ultimately the responsibility of her parents and us, as her grandparents, to be sure they do.
Unfortunately, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of children. Most children begin to get teeth when they are around seven months old. Yet approximately 60% of children will experience tooth decay before the age of five. By the age of 17, 78% of children have had a decayed tooth. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth, known as Streptococcus Viridians, working in combination with carbohydrates in your diet. These bacteria can be spread from one person to another by oral contact and since we aren’t born with it you could consider tooth decay an infectious disease spread by oral contact.
Dental decay can lead to pain, infection and loss of function. Dental pain is the second most frequent excuse for missed days at school behind the common cold. These undesirable outcomes can adversely affect learning, communication, nutrition and other activities necessary for normal growth and development. When a child has more than four decayed teeth at one time, it is called Rampant Decay and if the child is under that age of five it is called Early Childhood Decay Syndrome or Baby bottle tooth decay.
Baby bottle tooth decay can destroy your child's teeth. It occurs when a child is frequently exposed to sugary liquids such as milk, including breast milk, fruit juice and other sweet liquids. These children may be severely underweight because of the pain and difficulty eating. This can affect normal development of children and impact cognitive development. Problems of form, esthetics and function can affect the developing psyche of children resulting in poor self image, self esteem and self confidence. Preventing such disasters is a three pronged approach, good home care, diet and regular dental visits including fluoride.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the following:
o Begin clearing your baby's mouth during the first few days after birth. After every feeding, wipe the baby's gums with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque.
o Never allow your child to nurse or breast feed for prolonged periods and don't give him or her a bottle with milk, formula, sugar water or fruit juice during naps or at night in bed. Offer these only at “mealtimes”
o Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday.
o Discourage frequent use of a training cup (“sippy” cup).
o Assist your child in brushing and flossing. Remember a child of 6 may still need some help to do a good job.
o Help your child develop good eating habits early and choose sensible, nutritious snacks.
The ADA also recommends Fluoride, an excellent treatment to help prevent tooth decay. Today dentists have a new, “paint on” fluoride known as Fluoride Varnish. Just as the name implies it acts like a “paint” on the tooth to protect it from decay. It is so easy to use nearly anyone could use it. Vitamins with fluoride are also available from your dentist or pediatrician. These vitamins are especially effective in communities that don’t have optimal fluoride levels in the drinking water like Lees Summit.
The American Dental Association also recommends children visit the dentist for their first visit by one year old. Recent studies have shown that parental dental habits influence children’s dental habits. Children are more likely to have good brushing habits if their parents do. In a recently published survey, over 20% more children brush their teeth on a regular basis if their parents do as well. This trend is also seen in children that see the dentist on a regular basis. In the same survey, 86% of children whose parents see the dentist regularly had seen the dentist. Contrasted with 60% of children whose parents were not regular dental patients saw the dentist. So visit your dentist regularly, avoid sweets and brush often for your good oral health and your children’s. Setting a good example is important as a parent or grandparent.
This article was submitted by Dr. John N. Dane, D.D.S., a member of the Lee's Summit Health Education Advisory Board. The Lee's Summit Health Education Advisory Board is a Mayor-appointed, volunteer board that promotes and advocates community health by assessing health issues, educating the public and government agencies, developing plans to address health issues, encouraging partnerships and evaluating the outcomes.
“Health is a state of complete mental, physical, and social well being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.” World Health Organization
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