Your Child’s Oral Health Visit

Infants & Toddlers

Oral Health starts before the first tooth erupts! It is important to establish good habits from the start.

Breastfeeding/Nursing is a wonderful way to naturally shape the dental arches and promote good oral rest posture (tongue and lips in the right place). If you struggle with nursing a tongue or lip tie that is too “tight” may be the issue. Our myofunctional therapist, Laura can help evaluate this for you. It is not always “obvious” when checked when your baby was born. If the tongue cannot move freely it is considered tied and can contribute to development issues such as crooked teeth, long face syndrome, oral breathing/nasal congestion, jaw pain, and other chronic ailments.

Talk to your child's pediatrician about supplements needed while breastfeeding. Research shows babies who are breastfed can have low levels of vital nutrients/vitamins (like vit D). Typically this happens when mothers are deficient themselves unknowingly. Low vit D levels are linked to improper development of the face/jaws and sleep disordered breathing, among other concerns.

Bottle Use-The nipple of the bottle can cause malformation of the roof of the mouth (floor of the nose/airway). It is best to choose nipples that simulate breastfeeding and start weaning as young as possible.

Sippy Cups- Sippy cups are great options for on the go but the convenience of them can come at a cost. Large spouts, hard spouts, straws that require biting, etc all contribute to improper jaw development. Consider using spoutless cups, silicone cups (Haakaa brand is great), or cups with smaller flexible straws when needed on the go. At home introduce a traditional cup (non-breakable) at an early age.

*Make sure only water is available between meals for your child, as sipping on milk/juices/acidic beverages will lead to cavities.

Non-nutritive sucking/Habits:  -Pacifiers, Thumb/Finger sucking, Tongue,  Blanket/Clothing-

These habits should be discouraged as early as possible to prevent improper jaw development. We understand these habits can be hard to break and we get accustomed to our children “needing” these interventions to be calm but in reality children are resilient and will learn to manage their bodies and emotions better without them. Our myofunctional therapist has a 30 Day Habit Elimination Program to help kids kick those habits for good! She will also screen them for any contributing concerns as some habits are a sign of underlying issues (like small airway).

Introducing Solid Foods- Introducing a variety of textures, hardness, and chewiness of foods is important for proper jaw development. Consider following the “Baby Led Weaning” Program.

Teething- Teethers with silicone bristles can be used to stimulate gums and provide some relief to normal discomfort of teething. It is not recommended to use a frozen (opt for refrigerated) teether but it is ok to freeze a wet washcloth to have them chew on. It is not recommended to use numbing gels. If you feel your child needs an over the counter pain medication consult with your pediatrician. 

Homecare- It is recommended to start homecare from infancy. Start by taking a soft wet washcloth and wipe their mouth after feeding. Gently swipe the gums top, bottom, then tongue if able. Once the first tooth erupts you can start brushing with a toothbrush designed for infants (check amazon) twice a day. Toothpaste with fluoride is now approved for kids under age 2 as long as the amount is about the size of ½ grain of rice. 

All Ages

Brushing twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste (½ grain rice size under 2, rice size amount age 2+, pea size 6+) is recommended. Children need assistance brushing until the age of 9 years old! Of course as they get older they can become more independent but we recommend an adult helps brush always before bed until this age.

You can find disclosing tablets on amazon that turn the plaque purple to help find the areas missed.

Start flossing with string floss “silly string” or children's flossers (they love the flavors/colors) as the teeth erupt to establish the routine of flossing and brushing together. As soon as teeth start to touch the toothbrush can no longer clean all the surfaces needed.

Fluoride Rinses- When your child is able to swish and spit you can incorporate a fluoride rinse before bed as well. Do not rinse after a prescription toothpaste if being used, instead rinse at times other than brushing like after snacking.

Diet and cavities have a strong correlation. We have all heard cookies, cakes, and candy cause cavities but did you know that a cracker and a cookie are essentially the same as far as the bacteria in our mouth is concerned! 

The key concepts to remember are FORM and FREQUENCY. If a food is sticky like chips, crackers, or dried fruit  it is going to stick to the teeth longer and cause cavities. If you consume anything containing carbohydrates, processed foods or acidic foods/drinks frequently it is also going to lead to more cavities due to the constant pH drop of our saliva. The more snacking and sipping the more risk for pH drops, bacteria increases and teeth break down. Instead when snacking choose whole fruits, vegetables, cheese, nuts or foods with higher protein vs carbohydrates. 

If your child takes daily medications (chewables, gummies, inhalers) these may also contribute to cavities. Consider taking them with a meal (if allowed) and follow up with brushing 30 minutes later. At minimum encourage your child to rinse their mouth with water after taking the medication.

Xylitol gum can be helpful in preventing decay as well. This can be used after snacking to help remove food debris and neutralize acids in the mouth.  Make sure xylitol is listed as the first ingredient like the IceBreakers brand. You can also find xylitol lollipops and gummies on amazon for a tooth friendly treat! 

Positive Reinforcement

Taking care of our mouths and bodies should always be a positive experience! Creating positive associations with homecare routines can avoid potential fights and conflict as your child gets older. There are a variety of toothbrushing songs on youtube and there's even an app for that (try the Philips Sonicare or OralB apps) that make brushing fun and interactive. Using small rewards ($ store toys/stickers). It’s important to reinforce the why with kids and how important taking care of our bodies with healthy foods and proper hygiene is. Lead by example, if your children see you taking care of yourself they will follow.

Sleep & Airway

Since 2016 the American Dental Association has been recommending dental offices screen for potential airway/sleep issues. We will have you complete a Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire and refer you to the appropriate resources as needed to address any concerns. Nasal breathing is very important for our oral development and whole body health. Talk to your pediatrician if you notice your child breathing through their mouth often or snoring.