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UK Against Fluoridation

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

USA - Baby's dental visit crucial before first year

Baby's dental visit crucial before first year
Aug 27, 2008 12:00 AM
By Barbara Grijalva
Too many Arizona parents have no idea when baby's first dental visit should be, and that's causing a bunch of problems that could be prevented.
Here's something that surprised us: About one-third of Arizona children have cavities by the age of three.
They all should have seen a dentist before their first birthday.
And if you think, "Oh those are just baby teeth," you're in for even a bigger, and very unpleasant surprise.
Tucson Pediatric Dentist Dr. Laila Hishaw greets one of her regulars, actually one of her own twins, 9-month-old Hayden who has been coming with brother Nicholas to see the dentist since their first baby teeth came in.
Dr. Hishaw says, "That's one of the most common questions I get from the parents. Why do we have to treat these? They're just baby teeth. Aren't they going to fall out?"
Well, baby molars don't fall out until age 10, 11 or even 12.
Dr. Hishaw says, "We need those teeth not only for function, but for speech, but also they serve as kind of a spacer to guide in the permanent teeth."
How bad can things get?
Dr. Hishaw says, "If we haven't seen them before they're three, and they haven't had the opportunity to learn about how to prevent diseases by not putting your infant to bed with the bottle or sugary liquid or juice and how to limit the snacks, then, unfortunately, sometimes when I have a 3-year-old come in, the decay is so extensive, that we have to put them to sleep under general anesthesia."
Imagine needing a root canal and a crown at age three.
And here's something else you can do to prevent cavities. Don't share your germs.
Dr. Hishaw says, "Make sure that you're not sharing spoons and forks with your child. The baby is not born with the bacteria that causes cavities. So you're actually transmitting it."
Dr. Hishaw says the best way to brush baby's teeth at home is with a non-fluoride toothpaste because babies can't spit at this age.
And place baby's head in your lap.
Then, Dr. Hishaw says, "In small, circular motions, massage the teeth around the gums, because that's where the plague is going to develop first. Plaque is the bacteria that causes the cavities"
Any adult who fears going to the dentist will understand another benefit of starting dental care early.
Dr. Hishaw says, "Then they grow up without the fear and anxiety of seeing a dentist and your children could be cavity-free for life if we start early."
And even before that first dental visit, Dr. Hishaw recommends you clean baby's gums with a clean wet washcloth after every feeding.
One added benefit to cleaning is that it gets the baby used to it, and ready for brushing and to see the dentist when those first little teeth come in.
More advice for parents from Dr. Hishaw:
1. Wean the infant from the bottle by the first birthday.2. Don't put them to bed with a bottle of milk or juice or nurse "at-will" throughout the night.3. Juice or any other sugary liquid should NEVER be in the bottle at any time. Diluted juice in a sippy cup (1/2 cup a day) only when sitting down and eating a meal.4. Wipe the gums and tongue after every feeding. Brush as soon as teeth emerge.5. Careful of sticky snacks and sour Mexican candies. (Lucas is made with acetic acid).6. Parents should keep up their oral hygiene and see a dentist twice a year and not share their cup or spoon or clean a pacifier in their mouth.7. And finally, bring your infant in to see the pediatric dentist by their first birthday!!!

Arizona is 50% fluoridated

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