FAQs

I always encourage parents to prep kids for their first visit. Check out some of my favorite resources for first-time dentist trips:

Media - Peppa Pig has a nice episode about going to the dentist, but my fave is this Daniel Tiger episode about going to the dentist. It's very accurate, and kids love showing me their "silent roars" when they come in!

Books - The Daniel Tiger episode was originally a book - “Daniel Goes to the Dentist” - but another great option is "We're Going to the Dentist: Going for a Checkup” from Big Steps.

Besides physical resources, how you talk to your kids about their first visit and/or the emotions you put out there make a huge difference. Even if you hate going to the dentist or are scared as all get out, try not to push that on your kids. Positive words, expressions and encouragement are the best bet.

The three T's may be your key! These three tips will hopefully help make toothbrushing a bit easier for you and your kids:

Taste: Kids are notorious for hating minty toothpaste because it's too "spicy." Try something fruity, sweet-tasting or even flavorless. Some favorites: RiseWell’s cake batter flavor, Burt’s Bees’ Fruit Fusion flavor, Hello Products’ blue raspberry flavor, and OraNurse’s unflavored toothpaste.

Timing: Attempt to brush your kids teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Nighttime brushing doesn't have to be right at bedtime, just as long as they aren't snacking too much after they clean their teeth.

Texture: Kids tend to do better with creamy, smooth pastes rather than gels. And definitely avoid anything with little beads, though these have been outlawed in the United States since 2015.

Strong dental healthcare habits are great to start at age ##! Here are a few tips for caring for children at different stages of teeth growth:

Baby with no teeth: Use a washcloth or gauze to wipe baby's gums. It gets them used to having someone else's hands in their mouth.

One or a few teeth: I recommend using the Baby Banana toothbrush or a silicone finger brush. No toothpaste is needed.

Several or all baby teeth: Use a soft bristle, small-head toothbrush. Children age 1+ can use a smear of fluoride toothpaste, and children age 3+ can use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing.

You should take your little one to a pediatric dentist by age 1 or within 6 months of their first tooth coming in. There are many reasons to begin dental healthcare at an early age:

• Assess proper growth and development of teeth and jaws.

• Check for cavities (these can start as soon as teeth come in!).

• Review proper homecare - appropriate type and amount of toothpaste, best toothbrush, toothbrushing positions, etc.

• Discuss diet and nutrition that can help prevent dental decay.

• Get your little one used to going to the dentist regularly so that it isn't a scary thing that only happens for cavities, broken teeth, etc.

• Catch problems early. We can develop a plan specific for your kid if we're concerned about high cavity risk or see potential areas of dental decay.

• Anticipatory guidance. Let's get you ready for what's coming next: teething, how to handle trauma to the mouth, and help with discontinuing oral habits. Honestly, you often just don't know what you don't know.

• Clean your little one's teeth, if behavior allows. We know it can be tough to do at home, so leave it to the pros.

• Answer your questions!

An important thing to emphasize is not to put off the first visit because you are afraid it'll be scary or traumatizing for them (or you). Trust me. There may be tears, but they are not tears of pain: It's just something new. Those tears go away right after we're done. And when you start early, they catch on pretty quick and, before you know it, dental visits are a breeze. Delaying til age 3 or later doesn't always guarantee better cooperation.

The process to becoming a board-certified pediatric dentist is a long journey: After 4 years of undergrad, another 4 years of dental school and 2 years of residency, I became a pediatric dentist...yay! From there, I could begin practicing, but I decided to go the board-certified route to show my patients that:

• I am forced to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques, procedures, technologies, materials, etc., in the pediatric dentistry world;

• I’m committed to lifelong learning (especially since I have to do mini-modules every year and take the computer-based exam every 10 years);

• and I REALLY know my stuff.

How did board certification work? During my second year of residency, I took the first part of the boards - a computer-based exam that asked a bunch of questions from how much ibuprofen can be given to a 10 kg kid, to what to do if an adult tooth gets knocked out, to timing of baby teeth coming, and so much more.

I traveled to Texas after passing the computer-based portion to take the oral exam. I sat in front of a group of examiners (pediatric dentist colleagues who have been at it for a while) for multiple hours as they gave a detailed scenario then essentially asked "What would you do?"

Once I passed the oral portion, I became board-certified! But that really was just the beginning. All dentists must take a specific amount of continuing education course hours to keep their licenses. With being board-certified in pediatric dentistry, I have to take MORE, with a specific amount geared just towards kids dentistry because, remember, kids and baby teeth aren't just mini adults with little teeth.

(Note: Not ALL pediatric dentists are board-certified, and that’s OK! Board certification wasn’t pushed as much among medical students and residents until more recently.)

The short answer is yes! Cavities, whether in baby or adult teeth, are a bacterial infection. Just like any other infection, cavities can cause pain, spread from tooth to tooth, or, in certain circumstances, to other parts of the body. Because baby teeth have thinner enamel (outer) layers, cavities can grow and spread quicker than in adult teeth. Untreated cavities can lead to several missed days of school and lack of nutritional intake, so it is important to get rid of the cavities so that the infection is removed, form and function restored and your child’s pain diminished.

Although baby teeth do eventually fall out, they are just as important as adult teeth. Not only do they help with eating and speech, baby teeth act as a guide for adult teeth. Some baby teeth, like those in the back, do not normally fall out until 10-12 years old. Therefore, early loss of baby teeth can lead to orthodontic problems (crowding) in adult teeth which could mean braces in the future.

Saliva has dental decay fighting properties, but salivary flow decreases at nighttime, decreasing these germ fighting capabilities. Never put your baby or infant to sleep with a bottle filled with anything other than water. Even diluted juice or milk contains sugar that can harm their teeth. If bottle or breastfeeding before bed or in the middle of the night, wipe your child’s gums and teeth with a wet washcloth or gauze before putting them to sleep. Likewise, unless being used at mealtime, only fill a sippy cup with water. A small amount of juice or white milk can be placed in a sippy cup at mealtime.

Limit the amount of sugars, both solid and liquid, in your child’s diet. Water is the beverage of choice throughout the day, with small amounts of juice or white milk being consumed only at mealtime. Juice, sports/energy drinks, flavored (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla) milk, pop, candy, and foods with large amounts of starch and carbohydrates should be eaten sparingly or as a treat to avoid dental decay.

Assist your child with brushing and flossing until 6-7 years old. Younger children are encouraged to brush on their own, but be sure to check and re-brush their teeth, especially before bedtime. Brushing should occur twice a day, flossing once a day.

Every child will vary, but the average age is 6-7 years old. Check out this complete chart from the American Dental Association (ADA) for more detailed information.

Every child will vary, but the average age range is 6-10 momths. Check out this complete chart from the American Dental Association (ADA) for more detailed information.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends seeing a pediatric dentist when your child’s first tooth erupts or no later than their first birthday. Starting dental visits at a young age provides parents with essential dental and nutritional education for their little ones, allows early assessment of growth and development, establishes the importance of dental care and gets kids used to coming to the dentist for routine visits.

Many times a child’s first dental visit is due to a problem, such as pain. My philosophy is preventive dentistry: Routine visits at a young age can catch dental problems, including cavities, early enough so that treatment may not be as invasive if seen later on. Rest assured that if dental treatment is needed, your child will already have trust established between themselves and your dental team.