Many new parents often come into the office and ask what should I expect during childhood when it comes to my children’s teeth? I have some answers for you!

Taking good care of your child’s baby teeth is so important. Of course eventually they will fall out but up until that time, they play a very important role in your child’s bite, how they chew food and also how they speak. A lot of the same treatments are available to your children including dental sealants, x-rays, orthodontics and much more.

What you should expect during childhood years

• Teeth start to wiggle

At about 6 years old your child’s teeth will start to loosen up. Allow your child to wiggle the tooth until it falls out on its own. This will decrease the amount of bleeding and pain associated with losing a tooth.

• Cavities

During childhood the sugar bugs start to creep onto the teeth. In the office we refer to sugar bugs as cavities. Cavities start to develop when sugary foods are kept in the mouth for long period of time. Examples would be: Sipping on juice throughout the day, fruit snacks that stay lodged into the teeth throughout the day, candy and pop are just some of the examples of why children get cavities at such a young age. This bacteria lives on the teeth and feasts away at the tooth enamel. Your saliva washes away acid between meals however if your child is eating constantly thru the day, there may not be enough time to wash away the acid. 

Our best words of advice are to keep your children on a good oral hygiene path. Brushing twice a day, especially at night when everything they have eaten throughout the day is just sitting on their teeth for so long. If your children are going to have sugary drinks, have them have it at a meal and not just to sip on all day long. Using an over the counter fluoride rinse like ACT is also helpful. Routine dental cleanings are also critical to teaching your children good oral habits that will last a lifetime. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s oral health, please call the office right away, we would be happy to answer all questions you may have. 248-539-3088

As always we would like to thank you for being part of our practice family!