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A toothbrush with small bristles and a small head, especially one designed for infants, is the best choice for infants. Brushing at least once a day at bedtime will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay.

“First visit by their first birthday” is the general rule to prevent problems. Your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears between 6-12 months of age and certainly no later than his/her first birthday.

Pediatric dentistry is a dental specialty that focuses on the oral health of younger people. Following dental school, a pediatric dentist has two- three years of additional specialty training in the unique needs of infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health needs.

Start to use a fluoridated toothpaste when the first tooth erupts. Use a smear amount for children under 4 years old. Use a pea size amount for children 3 years old to 6 years old. Parents should supervise brushing and make sure that their child does not swallow excess toothpaste.

A sealant is a clear or tooth color glass ionomer material that is applied to a tooth to help keep it cavity-free. Sealants fill in the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth that are hard to clean, and shut out food particles that could get caught which cause cavities. Sealants are fast and easy to apply, and can effectively protect teeth for many years.

To comfort your child, have them rinse his/her mouth with warm salt water. If the child’s face is swollen, apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not apply heat to the sore area and avoid aspirin. You may give the child acetaminophen for pain and call us as soon as possible.

With contemporary safeguards such as lead aprons and digital X-rays, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small. Even though there is very little risk, pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of child patients to radiation. In fact, dental X-rays represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.

Remain calm! If it is possible, find the tooth and hold it by the crown rather than the root. Replace the tooth in the socket and hold it with the clean gauze or a washcloth. If you cannot put the tooth back in the socket, place it in a clean container with milk and take your child and the container to the pediatric dentist. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.