As parents, witnessing your child’s first tooth emerge marks a significant milestone, mingled with both excitement and concern. Understanding the various stages of tooth development is crucial for ensuring your child’s lifelong oral health journey.

Let’s explore these stages together:

Birth to 3 Years Old: During this period, primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, begin to appear, typically starting around six months of age with the lower central incisors. While these teeth eventually fall out, they play a vital role in preserving space for permanent teeth and facilitating proper chewing, speech, and appearance.

3 to 6 Years Old: By age three, most children will have all 20 primary teeth. This phase is pivotal for instilling good oral hygiene habits. Demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques and encourage regular dental check-ups to maintain optimal oral health.

6 to 12 Years Old: Between six and twelve years old, children gradually lose their primary teeth as permanent teeth emerge. Proper care during this transitional period sets the foundation for healthy adult teeth, influencing their position and overall oral health.

12 to 17 Years Old: As adolescents enter their teenage years, they typically have most of their adult teeth. Emphasize the importance of oral hygiene practices, including limiting sugar intake and wearing mouth guards during sports activities to prevent tooth trauma. If orthodontic issues arise, such as crooked teeth or irregular bites, seek professional evaluation for potential orthodontic treatment.

17 to 21 Years Old: The final stage of tooth development involves the eruption of wisdom teeth. In many cases, extraction may be recommended to prevent overcrowding and other oral health complications in adulthood.

Your child’s dental journey is dynamic, and proper care at each stage is paramount for their future oral health. Contact Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry of West Lebanon today to schedule your child’s first appointment. Let us partner with you in safeguarding their precious smile for years to come.

Pacifiers have long been a go-to solution for soothing fussy babies, but their impact on tooth development is a topic of concern for many parents. At Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry of West Lebanon, we understand the importance of addressing this issue to ensure the long-term oral health of your child.

Understanding the Effects of Pacifiers on Teeth

Pacifiers, known by various names like pacis, binkies, and dummies, can indeed influence the shape and alignment of a baby’s teeth and jaw. Prolonged and excessive use can lead to forward movement of the front teeth, resulting in crooked teeth or an overbite. Additionally, prolonged pacifier use can alter the shape of the roof of the mouth and increase the risk of otitis media, a painful type of ear infection, especially when used beyond six months of age.

Balancing Benefits and Risks

Despite the potential negative effects on dental development, pacifiers offer several benefits, including soothing and calming infants, aiding in self-soothing, and providing relief during minor medical procedures. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), pacifier use during sleep may even reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in infants aged one to six months.

Using Pacifiers Wisely

Both the AAP and American Academy of Family Physicians recommend gradually weaning babies from pacifier use around six months of age to mitigate potential dental issues. Prolonged use beyond two years, and especially beyond age four, is associated with the greatest risk of adverse effects on teeth.

While up to 85 percent of children in the western world use pacifiers at some point, most do not experience significant dental problems. However, it’s essential to begin the process of weaning gradually to avoid distressing your child. Our team at Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry of West Lebanon can provide guidance and support tailored to your child’s needs.

Promoting Early Dental Health Habits

We encourage parents to schedule their child’s first dental examination as soon as the first tooth erupts. Early monitoring allows us to track tooth development and provide guidance on oral hygiene practices from the outset.

Contact Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry of West Lebanon Today

For personalized guidance on pacifier use and dental development or to schedule your child’s next dental appointment, contact our office. Our team is dedicated to promoting healthy smiles and lifelong dental habits in children. Schedule an appointment with us today and let us partner with you in your child’s dental journey.

It’s not easy to get your child to practice good oral hygiene on their own. They need your help, and it’s worth the time and patience. Good dental care at a young age reaps long-term benefits. Here are a few ways to make daily oral hygiene more exciting for your kids.

1. Let Them Accessorize

When your child gets to pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste, they’ll feel like they’re in control of their own oral care. Children like to make their own decisions, and this is a harmless one that will get them excited.

2. Reward Good Behavior

Incentivizing your child can have a huge effect on their motivation to brush daily. Try setting up a reward system based on how often they brush each month. Keep track of their daily brushing and consider giving them a small prize on good months.

3. Brush Together

Brushing and flossing can be more exciting for your kids when you do it as a family. By brushing with someone else, your kids will better understand the necessity of daily hygiene while feeling more relaxed.

4. Teach as You Go

Educate little ones about proper brushing and flossing techniques so that they can develop a solid understanding of oral hygiene. Make sure that they understand the long term benefits of good oral health.

Try to make daily brushing a fun part of their day rather than a chore that they dread. You know your child better than anyone, so make sure to do what you can to help them practice good oral hygiene for years to come. 

Contact our kid-friendly team today to schedule an appointment for your child and learn more about making oral hygiene into a fun activity.

Braces are perfect for achieving straight, healthy smiles that last a lifetime. Braces tend to be most effective while the patient is young and their mouth structure is still forming. If you think your child is ready for braces, here are a few things to help you make informed decisions.

What’s the Point of Braces?

Braces are used to correct teeth that are growing in a crooked position and to compensate for gaps between teeth. In addition, if your child’s teeth are causing an overbite or underbite, braces are an effective way to correct those conditions.

Benefits of Braces at a Young Age

While orthodontics can benefit the right patient at nearly any age, they tend to be more effective in younger patients because the jaw structure is still malleable. The American Dental Association (ADA), found that a majority of orthodontic treatment cases typically begin between the ages of 8 and 14. While starting at a young age helps, the quality of treatment will depend on many factors. 

Braces Will Change Your Life

Your child may be unhappy that they’ll have to avoid sticky foods like bubblegum for a while, but you can help them to see how braces will provide countless benefits to their long term oral health. Not only will straighter teeth improve your child’s gum health, they can also prevent dental complications later in life. By getting braces when your dentist recommends, kids can possibly avoid more advanced corrective procedures in the future. Once your child sees their straight, beautiful smile, they’ll understand why it was worth it.

Contact our office to discuss the benefits of using braces to help your child’s smile. During your appointment, our team will provide your child with an examination and recommend a treatment plan that will work best for them.

The development of your child’s mouth is an important part in their overall growth, and part of the transition is the loss of primary (baby) teeth. For most children, these first teeth will loosen and fall out on their own; however, this is not always the case. Our doctor will evaluate your child’s mouth to ensure they are on track to developing a healthy smile. 

Is My Child’s Primary Teeth Loss on Track?

It’s not uncommon to wonder if your child’s oral health is on track with their overall development. According to the Mayo Clinic, a child’s 20 primary teeth typically begin to loosen and fall out around the age of 6. This usually continues until age 12, when most children lose their primary second molars. However, this can vary. Some kids can lose their first tooth at age 4 or 7.  

When Will My Child’s Primary Teeth Need to Be Removed?

Our doctor will examine all of your child’s teeth to determine how many they have lost and how many adult teeth still need to come in. Every child is different, but if their primary teeth have still not fallen out when they reach their teenage years, our doctor may recommend removing those teeth in preparation for orthodontic treatment. In addition, if your child is beginning to get their second molars but still have some of their first teeth, we might consider removing them at that time.

Why Would My Child’s Primary Teeth Need to Be Removed? 

Crowding is an issue when a permanent tooth begins to grow next to a primary tooth. We usually recommend removal of the primary tooth in this instance. Even with removal of the primary tooth, our doctor might recommend a palatal expander as part of the treatment protocol. 

Why Wouldn’t My Child’s Primary Teeth Need to Be Removed? 

Every mouth is different and sometimes the best course of action is simply to wait. Your child’s primary teeth have an important job in holding the required space needed for permanent teeth to come in. With missing teeth, our doctor will decide if the space between teeth needs to be closed. Keeping teeth in place is also good for keeping the gums healthy.

Our doctor can determine if your child’s primary teeth need to be removed. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact our office. 

Have you ever struggled with helping your child maintain healthy oral hygiene habits when they’re feeling under the weather? When dealing with a fever, cough, or vomiting, your child’s oral health might be the last thing on your mind. Our team is here to help provide tips for keeping your child’s mouth clean and teeth healthy, especially when they’re sick. 

Brush and Floss

Regular brushing and flossing help prevent build-up of harmful bacteria in your child’s mouth, which helps keep their immune system focused on fighting a cold or the flu. If your child’s illness includes vomiting, their teeth are exposed to acids that can weaken them.Try encouraging your child to rinse thoroughly and brush their teeth to avoid this type of damage.

Hydrate

When your child is sick, water can help them stay hydrated, soothe a sore throat, and keep sinuses moist. In addition, congestion can cause mouth breathing, resulting in dry mouth. This lack of saliva can lead to increased risk of tooth decay. While sports drinks and ginger ale can help ease some symptoms, remember they contain sugar and can make the problem worse. Water should be your go-to to prevent dry mouth and congestion.

Be Aware of Sugary Medicine

Like sports drinks and soda, cough drops and cough syrups can contain high amounts of sugar. While sweeteners can make medicine more pleasant-tasting, they can also leave a residue on teeth and lead to decay. Look for sugar-free options when possible and have your child rinse well after taking any medicine containing sugar.

Disinfect Dental Appliances

If your child has a dental appliance such as a retainer, athletic mouth guard, or night guard, be sure it is cleaned thoroughly between uses. Contact our office for information on the type of cleanser appropriate for your child’s device. When your child is well again, replace their toothbrush to prevent reinfection. Even a clean toothbrush may retain some bacteria or other germs following use.

For more tips on keeping teeth healthy through an illness, contact our office.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection in the gums that can impact the teeth and jawbone if left untreated. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, children also may suffer from periodontal disease. Fortunately, if identified and treated early, its effects can be managed and even reversed to allow your child to return to optimal oral health through adolescence and beyond.

There are several factors that can lead to the onset of periodontal disease in children. Poor oral hygiene and untreated plaque are the most common, however diet, diabetes, hormonal changes, and even genetic predisposition can also increase your child’s risk.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, chronic gingivitis is common in children. Your child should be screened for periodontal disease if their gums are:

• Sore
• Swollen
• Red
• Bleeding from brushing and/or flossing

If left unchecked, periodontal disease can cause your child’s gums to pull away from the teeth, affecting the structure of the bone beneath and potentially impacting their jaw alignment and bite. Over time, bone and tooth loss can occur.

Periodontal disease is preventable and highly treatable. Regular cleaning and exam appointments will help keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy. Teach your child about the importance of daily oral hygiene. If periodontal disease has begun, our team can help. Contact our office for your child’s periodontal screening today.