In order to prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday.

Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two to three years of specialty training following dental school and limits his/her practice to treating children and teens. Pediatric dentists are primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health needs.

A check-up every six months is recommended in order to prevent cavities and other dental problems. However, your pediatric dentist can tell you when and how often your child should visit based on individual oral health concerns.

Primary or "baby" teeth are important for many reasons. 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.

A toothbrush will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay. Any soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head, preferably one designed specifically for infants, should be used at least once a day at bedtime.

Fluoridated toothpaste should be introduced when a child is 2-3 years of age. Prior to that, parents should clean the child's teeth with water or non-fluoridated "tooth and gum cleanser" and a soft-bristled toothbrush. When toothpaste is used after age 2-3, parents should supervise brushing and make sure the child uses no more than a pea-sized amount on the brush. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.

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.

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 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.

Have your pediatric dentist evaluate the fluoride level of your child's primary source of drinking water. If your child is not getting enough fluoride internally through water (especially if the fluoride level is deficient or if your child drinks bottled water without fluoride), then your pediatric dentist may prescribe fluoride supplements.

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.

There is very little risk with dental X-rays. Pediatric dentists are especially careful to minimize the amount of radiation to which children are exposed. Lead aprons, high-speed film and sophisticated digital radiography are used to ensure safety.

First, rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) as directed on the label for pain, rather than placing aspirin on the teeth or gums. Finally, see a dentist as soon as possible.

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 five, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your pediatric dentist.

Soft plastic mouthguards can be used to protect a child's teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sport-related injuries. A custom-fitted mouthguard developed by a pediatric dentist will protect your child from injuries to the teeth and face, and even provide protection from severe injuries to the head.

The most important thing to do is to remain calm. Then find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to insert the tooth back into the socket. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a cup of cold milk or the patient's own saliva and take your child and the tooth immediately to the pediatric dentist.

Sealants protect the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth, especially the chewing surfaces of back teeth where most cavities in children are found. Made of clear or shaded plastic, sealants are applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity-free. Research has proven that sealants reduce cavities on the chewing surfaces of permanent teeth by 80%.

Sealants work by filling in the crevasses and grooves on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles and harmful bacteria that can get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years.

One serious form of decay among young children is baby bottle or nursing tooth decay, frequently called Early Childhood Caries. This condition is caused by frequent and long exposures of an infant’s teeth to liquids that contain sugar. Among these liquids are milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks.

Putting a baby to bed for a nap or at night with a bottle of anything other than water can cause serious and rapid tooth decay. Sweet liquid pools around the child’s teeth, giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. If you must give the baby a bottle as a comforter at bedtime, it should contain only water.

After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque. The easiest way to do this is to sit down and place the child’s head in your lap, or lay the child on a dressing table or the floor. Whatever position you use, be sure you can see into the child’s mouth easily.

Children’s teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4 months, the first primary (or baby) teeth to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and order of their eruption varies. Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the wisdom teeth.

Click here for eruption chart

Fluoride is an element, which has been scientifically proven to be extremely beneficial in the prevention of dental decay. There are two types of fluoride, topical (toothpaste; professional treatments) or systemic (city water; prescribed supplements; fluoride containing multi-vitamins). However, too little or too much fluoride can be detrimental to the teeth. Little or no fluoride will not strengthen the teeth to help them resist cavities. Excessive fluoride ingestion by preschool-aged children can lead to dental fluorosis.

Parents can take the following steps to decrease the risk of fluorosis in their children’s teeth:

• Use baby tooth cleanser on the toothbrush in the very young child.
• Place only a pea-sized drop of children’s fluoridated toothpaste on the brush when brushing.
• Teach your child how to expectorate toothpaste as soon as possible.
• Account for all of the sources of ingested fluoride before requesting fluoride supplements from your child’s physician or pediatric dentist.
• Avoid giving any fluoride-containing supplements or vitamins to infants without speaking to your pediatric dentist first.
• Obtain fluoride level test results for your drinking water before giving fluoride supplements to your child (check with local water utilities).