TODDLER SMILES 

The ages between 2 and 4 are wonderful years.  At Dr Cara’s we all love working with these children.  Their vocabulary is developing, they love to share stories, have an increased attention span and are learning to follow directions. With gentle guidance and playful fun they often do quite well in the dental environment.  They are curious, funny and full of joy!  All of these aspects of development fit right in to teaching little ones that the dentist is not to be feared.  Dr. Cara’s philosophy is that children will rise to the occasion if given the opportunity and we see this happen everyday!

WHAT TO ANTICIPATE AS YOUR TODDLER GROWS

Anticipatory Guidance provides information to parents and caregivers on what to expect in a child’s current and next developmental stage, so that they can anticipate and provide for their child’s needs. This is the tem applied to teaching ahead of time so that unfavorable conditions can be prevented.

This is beneficial in that Dr. Cara and our clinical staff can tell you what to expect with your child’s teeth each time you come in.

• We can tell you about the time a tooth will erupt or be lost in the mouth
• We can also let you know if your child will need orthodontic treatment
• Parents can learn about good oral healthcare and the benefits of that for their child
• We will provide proper expectations on what children should be able to do at each age level in regard to oral health care
• Information is also provided on extended pacifier and bottle use

TODDLER TOOTH CARE

Do baby teeth need to be brushed…YES!  Can a toddler brush their teeth effectively on their own…NO!  They may want to brush their teeth by themselves and that is terrific, but it is you, the parent who needs to make sure that all the “sugar bugs” are off of their teeth.

The best way to get good brushing habits is to let your toddler watch you every day as you brush your teeth.  At this stage of development toddlers love to be like their parents.  Give your toddler their own toothbrush dampened with water and let them model you. As you are brushing your teeth show your toddler how it’s done.  No need for  toothpaste at this point.  Toddlers like the taste and will just suck it off of the brush.  Reserve that small smear of fluoridated toothpaste for the time that you are actually doing the brushing.

So what if your toddler wants nothing to do with you brushing their teeth?  Well, you brush their teeth despite their protests. This is hard sometimes.  We like to use the analogy of putting an uncooperative toddler in a car seat. Just because they don’t want to do it doesn’t mean it is ok to sit unbuckled.   It is the same with teeth.  Even if your toddler doesn’t want you to do it, you are not helping them by skipping brushing. This only creates cavities.   

Children don’t develop the muscular control and skill required for good brushing until sometime between the ages of 5 and 7. Until then they need your physical help each and every time.  Working as a team is always a good compromise.  Your child can brush first and you after, or vice versa.  I had a very strong willed toddler daughter and brushing was a battle.  She is now 14, brushes her beautiful teeth regularly and has not been traumatized by “my mommy loves you method!”

Our website has a terrific brushing chart that you can print off to help make brushing a game.  You can mail a completed chart to our office and we will send your little one a post card congratulating them on their good work!  Our intention is to give make brushing fun, give positive feedback and reinforce regular brushing.

TODDLER TEETHING

Teethingis the process during which an infant’s teeth sequentially appear by breaking through the gums. Teething may start as early as three months or as late, in some cases, as twelve months. The typical time frame for new teeth to appear is somewhere between six and nine months. It can take up to several years for all 20 primary (baby) teeth to appear. Though the process of teething is sometimes referred to as "cutting teeth", when teeth break through the gums they do not cut through the flesh. Instead, special chemicals are released within the body that cause some cells in the gums to die and separate, allowing the teeth to come through.

Every child is unique during the teething process.  Some are fussier than others. The soreness and swelling of the gums before a tooth comes through is the cause for the pain and fussiness a baby experiences during this change. These symptoms usually begin about three to five days before the tooth shows, and they disappear as soon as the tooth breaks the skin.

Some of the signs or symptoms that a baby has entered the teething stage will be actions that are noticeable. They may chew on their fingers or toys to help relieve pressure on their gums. Babies might refuse to eat or drink due to the pain. Symptoms will generally fade on their own, but a doctor /dentist should be notified if they worsen or are persistent. Teething may cause signs and symptoms in the mouth and gums, but it doesn't cause problems elsewhere in the body

TOOTH GRINDING

Tooth grinding (bruxism)  is not an uncommon phenomenon for toddlers who are getting used to their new teeth. We often hear parents say it sounds like their child is chewing on rocks!  The sound can be terrible but rest assured no long term harm is being done.    Most children will stop grinding when their adult teeth begin to erupt.   We frequently have parents share concern about the chipping and wear that occurs due to grinding.  As the enamel wears away the teeth flatten out, the dentin (inside more yellow layer) shows.  It doesn’t look very good but it does not hurt as the pulp (nerve) "scars" back out of the way about as fast as the child grinds away the tooth structure. By the time you would see real problems due to lost tooth structure, the teeth naturally fall out. 

What about a night guard?  For toddlers  - no.  First, it would be impossible to keep it in the mouth, second, you would have to remake it so often due to growth and most importantly -  there is no real benefit!

"But the noise is driving me crazy!" Remember, things generally settle down when the permanent teeth begin erupting.  If the noise is bad, you can wake your toddler up but then you have a crying baby to contend with!   

TODDLER TOOTH DISCOLORATION

Parents often express concern because one of their toddler’s teeth has darkened in color.  It is a very common thing to see a dark baby tooth because kids are bumping their teeth all the time – they are toddling into everything! Usually the color change occurs two to three weeks after an accident. It's generally a grayish color, sometimes turning almost black and even often lightening back up. Whether the tooth turns dark or not doesn't always depend on the severity of the injury.  If it doesn't turn dark after a month, it likely won't have any further problems. It may even lighten back up. If it doesn't, there still may be no treatment needed other than observation. Rarely, it will abscess and need removal so that the infection does not spread.