Each February, the American Dental Association sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Mike Kanellis, DDS, MS, assistant dean for patient services at The University of Iowa College of Dentistry, talks about children's dental health:
When should a child make their first trip to the dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that kids have their first visit to the dentist by age one or within six months following the eruption or appearance of the first tooth.
What will a pediatric dentist check for at that first visit?
We look for normal eruption patterns and advise parents about what we see. We like to assess whether or not the child has adequate fluoride exposure. For example, are they drinking city water or well water without fluoride or using filters that might take some of the fluoride out. We look at habits like thumbs and pacifiers and give advice to parents about that. We also like to do individual Caries risk assessments or try to determine if that child is at high risk for cavities.
Why is it important to take care of baby teeth when permanent teeth will eventually take their place?
There are a lot of reasons that baby teeth are important. First of all, I think they hold space for the permanent teeth that come in later. We stress the importance of keeping baby teeth healthy to prevent early tooth loss that can lead to orthodontic problems. But besides that, I think, for normal speech development and function, like eating and cosmetics or aesthetics, it's important to keep those baby teeth in good shape.
How should a parent introduce brushing to a child?
I think parents should brush their kids' teeth for them as soon as the first tooth erupts. Even earlier than that, I think a lot of parents like to introduce either massaging or wiping off of the gums with a wash cloth daily. But when the first tooth comes into the mouth, I recommend the parents get in there with a tooth brush and do the daily cleaning at least once a day for the child.
At what age should children start using toothpaste?
There's quite a bit of controversy about that. If the child is from a family that doesn't have a history of significant tooth decay, I think you can get away without using toothpaste until age two or three. On an individual basis, we see a lot of children are at high risk for tooth decay, and for those kids we definitely recommend using a fluoride toothpaste, with the parents controlling the amount—just a small amount is needed—but to use that on a daily basis to prevent tooth decay.
Is The University of Iowa College of Dentistry involved in any special pediatric programs or studies?
We have a lot of activities going on for Children's Dental Health Month. Most of them are geared at access to care or awareness. This past weekend, our student groups held a Give Kids a Smile activity at area Wal-Marts where they provided free dental screenings and fluoride varnish treatments. On February 29, students will be at the Children's Museum in Coralville from 6 to 8 p.m., where our student groups will offer free screenings and fluoride varnish applications, as well as a skit for entertainment. |
