Should i clean my 12-month-olds teeth?

Yes: After meals and before bedtime, clean your baby's teeth with a clean cloth. Don't worry too much about getting every last bit off the teeth. You may want to make an appointment for your child to see the dentist for the first time.

Yes: Use a gauze and wipe off the plaque off the teeth or if possible use a small brush. The point is to not let plaque sit on the teeth.

YES! Spiffies are great for this!: Oral health care starts before birth among our patients under four, tooth decay remains as one of the most challenging and difficult problems we face. The decay process will begin in a child’s mouth well before the age of three. It makes good sense to start a comprehensive preventative program before that. The american academy of pediatric dentistry recommends that the first dental examination be made at 12 months of age. Many have suggested visits be scheduled as soon as the first tooth appears, which is six months for the average child. Many pediatric dentists prefer to schedule informative consultations with mother before the child is born. For families with an extensive history of tooth decay, we follow that recommendation.

More school and TLC: We have 2 extra years of school to get our specialty. Our offices are designed to make children feel comfortable. Our office is an open bay design so all the kids sit together and no one has to go into a "scarey" room all by themselves. My whole staff loves working with kids!

Somewhere between 18-25: Most of our patients "graduate" to an adult dentist between the ages of 18 & 25 or when they go away to college.

Your pediatrician is a good place to start: Getting a referral from your pediatrician is a good place to start. Check out their referrals on sites like yelp if you want other peoples ratings. Make sure they are board certified and i suggest that it be a "kids only" practice instead of a family practice.

No dual specialty!: I know several pediatric dentists that have been trained in ortho and do it on a daily basis but you can not be board certified in both pediatric dentistry and orthodontia.

Tooth brushing: Tooth cleaning (brushing) should be started as soon teeth start budding into the mouth. The bacteria are there and ready to colonize teeth and start damaging them.

Dental Implant Failure: Signs of dental implant failure are: pain, bleeding, exudate discharge, loss of strength (mobility), bone loss on the x-ray. Of course, ones best move is to see his/her dentist to properly evaluate the situation and take proper action. It's best to see if the failure process can be stopped and even reversed.

Pregnancy, Infection: There are reports linking oral infection and low birth weight of the new born. No infection any where in the body is good for pregnancy. If suspect of an oral infection then see your dentist asap. Don't leave anything to chance.

Baby teeth: Use a soft wash cloth, a finger brush or a soft baby tooth brush. Just water is ok, but by 15 months i recommend using a smear of flouride tooth paste.

Dental sealants: Some dental sealants release Fluoride to help keep dental caries under control.

Dental rubber dam: It's main use is in performing root canals.

Soda, Pops, Teeth: Drinking sodas is never a good thing. Having said that, the next best thing is to immediately brush teeth soon after drinking sodas. Also if you want to drink soda it's best to drink it all in a few minutes as opposed to sipping over an hour or so.

Dental caries, tooth decay: Tooth decay/caries is a process and takes time to develop and become visible. In its earlier stages it can be stopped and perhaps reversed.

Oral infection, Dental abscess: An abscess is culmination of an infection. When a patient is presented with an abscess among the steps taken for addressing the issue "incision & drainage". Or in another word "popping" the abscess. However, it's the first step in a series of steps taken to a treat the infection. Therefore, you have done the first step yourself. Now you have to see your dentist to get to identify the cause and do the take the proper steps for treatment.

Dental Filling, Tooth Decay: It is not unusual or unheard of to lose dental fillings. However, if it happens it means there is something wrong and you need help. It's best to see your dentist asap to prevent further issues like toothache, abscess, etc.

Etching, Dental Fillings, Sealants: Acid etching creates micro-porosities on the surface of the teeth for penetration of the sealant material (composite material). It enhances retention and longevity of the filling. It also serves to seal out the bacteria form entering in the area that's sealed.

Tooth Decay, Fruits: Tooth decay is a function of dental plaque, sugar metabolism and acid production as a byproduct of such metabolism. Eating fruit is good and highly recommended for health. However, one needs to brush soon after eating anything including fruits. So enjoy your fruit and then brush. "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" but not the dentist. :).

Tooth Cleaning, Pain: Regular dental cleaning should not be painful. However, if gum disease (periodontitis) is present then you need more than regular cleaning. The process is known as scaling/root planing which will require local anesthetics.

Dental Etching: Etching enhances retention and longevity of the composite fillings and sealants. It also helps better isolation of the site being filled against penetration of the bacteria. Of course, it should be accompanied with adequate oral hygiene.

Dental Implants, Cumadin: Yes, if you are otherwise healthy, your inr is less than 3 and can get a medical clearance from your physician.

Immediate Placement of Dental Implant: Yes! dental implant (or implants) can be placed immediately. We do them on a daily basis in our clinic. Of course, a complete exam, work up, discussion of the treatment options should be done first.

Dental Implant, Failure: Signs of failing dental implants include: bone loss (evident on dental x-ray) bleeding exudate discharge (pus) abscess pain mobility of the implant (loose implant) gum recession around the implant of course, a visit to your dentist for evaluation is definitely necessary.

Dental Implants, Failure: Dental implants, once placed, require time to integrate. This process takes several months. During this period it's not unlikely to experience issues like loss of few bits of bone graft, slight bleeding due to bone bits working their way out, tissue fenestration (tissue shrinkage) over the top of the implant. Your best step is a visit to your dentist dentist to assess the situation and come up with proper answers.

Absolutely: Oral hygiene is an essential part of one's health and personal grooming. You my find that parental supervision may be required well into adolescence to insure proper care. ANS don't forget that profession visits for your child should start at about 2 1/2 years old.

Yes: Start to clean their teeth as soon as they have teeth. Show them by example. You will have to do it for them for years, until they have the fine motor skills to do it themselves.

Yes!!: Start good habits early. Use a Fluoride free tooth paste made for young children. Remember tooth decay does not discriminate by age!

Minimal: I agree the exposure is minimal. The information found in those x-rays is so valuable that it would be silly to let fear of this minimal exposure prevent you from getting the benefit of dental x-rays. Catching small issues before they become big issues is the name of the game.

"The Nerve": Pulpitus is the inflammation of the nerve tissue and it is usually reversible or irreversible, DX after testing with hot and or cold stimulus. The root canal is a common treatment for irreversible pulpitus.

A few more: The ada recognizes the above plus 2 more: public health dentist and prosthodontist and the sub-specialty of maxillofacial prosthodontics.

Baby brush: Use a toothbrush designed for infants and flouride free tooth paste.