Facts About Thumb and Pacifier Sucking

To continue from last week’s blog post regarding dental care for babies, we felt it is necessary to talk about other baby habits that can affect oral hygiene such as using a pacifier or the baby sucking on their thumb.

According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, here is a list of quick facts regarding pacifier/thumb sucking:

• Babies suck on their thumb or pacifier for pleasure, comfort and security. This habit can start before they are even born.

• The AAPD recommends pacifiers over thumbs to comfort new babies. The pacifier habit is typically easier to break and could decrease the chance of orthodontic problems.

• Thumb or pacifier sucking is normal for infants and children. Usually children will stop on their own, however if the child doesn’t, the habit should be discouraged by the age of 3.

• Thumb or pacifier sucking can affect the teeth the same way. After a long period of time, there may be affects with the upper front teeth sticking outward. Other potential effects include problems with jaw alignment, tooth positioning or the bite.

It is very important that you visit a pediatric dentist or a dentist who devotes most of his or her time to children, by the age of one year.  As time goes on, support from your pediatric dentist, as well as family, can help children quit the pacifier or thumb sucking habit!

Dental Care For Babies

Here at Playtime Dental we care about your child’s oral health!  We are here to share with the world, how to prevent cavities and keep the mouth healthy!

People wonder, why clean your baby’s mouth when they don’t have any teeth?  We want to clean the mouth even without teeth because plaque from food can accumulate and bacteria can still grow and cause problems for the gums!  Also by doing so, this will prevent the bacteria from sticking to your baby’s gums which can help avoid damage to the teeth as they erupt, as well as prevent bad breath. So it is important to gently wipe your baby’s gums at least twice a day or after each meal.  

It is recommended by American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, that a child have his or her first dental visit by the age of 1! Here is an equation to help: 1 + 1 = 0. Let me guess, in thinking back to your elementary math days, you learned that 1 + 1 =2 not zero. However, in this scenario 1 + 1 = 0 because ONE dental visit when there is ONE baby tooth can equal ZERO cavities!

After consulting with your dentist, you can graduate to using a toothbrush once the baby has a tooth or two. The toothbrush needs to have soft bristles and be small enough to fit comfortably in your baby’s mouth.  You can start using a smear of fluoridated toothpaste around age 1. Carefully supervise your children when using toothpaste so they are not swallowing it!

Babies can “catch” cavities from their caregivers. In 71 percent of the cases, the mother is the source.

Research indicates that the cavity-causing bacteria known as Streptococcus mutants can be transmitted from mothers to infants even before teeth erupt! The better the mother’s oral health, the less the chance the baby will have problems.

All in all, being a proactive parent will not only benefit your child’s oral hygiene but also help start making a routine dental visit a positive experience for your kiddos! 

Easing Children's Dental Fear

When a child first learns that he is going to be going to the dentist, his first thought is typically formed around the vision of some cartoon mad scientist or evil doctor. This perception is due primarily to the number of children's television shows that portray doctors or dentists in a scary yet comical fashion. Let's face it—older siblings with a sense of humor don't help, either. Fortunately when it comes to kids' dentistry, there are a few tricks of the trade that can help your child look forward to visiting the dentist.

Easing a Child's Fears of the Dentist Starts with the Parent

Avoid using a few key words before going to the dentist. Words such as "hurt," "shot," "painful," or "scary" shouldn't be used. Instead, use a few details to tell your child about why going to the dentist is important. If your child has a favorite superhero or fictional character that has a sparkling smile, then be sure to use that character as a prime example of why going to the dentist can be fun and healthy. Try saying something like, "I bet Superman goes to the dentist every six months to keep his smile healthy."

One of the most important things that a parent can do to ease a child's fear of the dentist is to understand the child's fear. Sometimes, kids are afraid because they have heard horror stories from their older siblings or seen something scary on television. Other times, kids are simply afraid of the unknown. No matter the reason, try to understand your child's fear so that you can help show him or her why the dentist's office isn't a scary place to be.

General Dentist Tips for Easing a Child's Fear

The final person who can ease a child's fear of the dentist's office is a kids dentist with caring hands. Below are the top three tips for helping to eliminate a child's fear.

1. Speak in a calming and friendly voice. If children hear a friendly or happy tone, then they are less likely to be afraid.
2. Tell stories or anecdotes to distract the child. Stories are a fantastic distraction that can help to take a child's mind off of the scary dentist tools and instead help the child to think about something more pleasant.
3. Use simple words to describe a procedure or action. Remember that kids are often afraid of the unknown. This includes big, scary words that are hard to understand. Keep things simple, and the child is sure to be a little less afraid.

When it comes to kids and the dentist's office, remember that a healthy smile is well worth helping your child to overcome any fears. For more helpful dentist tips, visit us online.

Dental Care during Pregnancy

When a woman finds out that she is pregnant, she often finds her appointment book filled to the brim with an onslaught of doctors' appointments. But often, women gloss over the importance of dental care during pregnancy. Read on to discover a few reasons why maintaining dental care during pregnancy is a good and healthy practice.

Avoid Pregnancy Complications Caused by Poor Dental Hygiene

Did you know that seeing a general dentist during your pregnancy can help you to avoid harmful birthing complications? According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), there is new evidence that suggests that women with periodontal disease have an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. In order to avoid these risks, it is important that a pregnant woman continues to maintain good dental health throughout her entire pregnancy.

After pregnancy, it is equally important that a mother regularly visits a general dentist. Mothers with poor oral health are at a greater risk of passing on cavity-causing bacteria to their young children. To avoid this, mothers and pregnant women should practice the following good oral hygiene rules:

1. Maintain a proper diet. Dental health starts with a good, healthy diet that isn't too high in cavity-causing sugars.
2. Visit your dentist regularly. Seeing the dentist regularly will help your gums and teeth to stay in top-notch condition. A dentist will also help you to avoid and resolve oral diseases, such as cavities or the presence of harmful bacteria.
3. Use a fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash.
4. Don't forget to brush at least twice a day. While many dentists recommend brushing three times a day, sometimes that doesn't happen during the busy months of pregnancy. Using mouthwash after eating is a good substitute during the day. But remember, teeth should be thoroughly brushed morning and night.
5. Don't share utensils with your infant children. Sharing utensils and food is one of the easiest ways that bacteria are spread from one person to another.

For more helpful tips about kids dental health and family dentistry, check out our FAQs at Playtime Dental.