For Parents

Kids. Gotta love ’em. They forget to brush. Chip their teeth on the edge of the pool. And drive a hard bargain with the tooth fairy.

We can't help you with the tooth fairy, but we can help you establish a pattern of lifelong dental health and care for any mishaps along the way.

We welcome your questions so please don't hesitate to call. To get you started, here are answers to concerns we hear about most often.

Expecting? Ask about “Baby Steps”

We want to welcome your baby with a free packet to help you get off to a confident start caring for your little one's gums and teeth.

Baby Steps packet includes:

• Baby's first toothbrush
• Award Certificate (sample, opens in a pop-up window)
• Practical information on tooth eruption

To request a packet for your baby, email us or call Gloria at (763) 571-5497.

More Questions & Answers

• When is is time to begin brushing?

  Before your baby's teeth erupt, use a soft washcloth or gauze pad to gently wipe the gums after each feeding.

  When the first tooth or two appear, you can use a soft-bristled brush with a small head and water. A small amount of fluoridated toothpaste—the size of a pea—should be introduced by the time your child is 2 or 3, but only if you are confident she won't swallow it. Brushing twice a day is fine. If your child brushes only once a day, bedtime is best.

  One more thought... Flavored toothpaste is just fine. If it tastes good, brushing will be more fun.

• When can I expect my baby to start teething?

  All your little one's baby teeth are already in the jaw at birth. The lower two front teeth are typically the first to make an appearance between 6-12 months. But every child is different so don't fret if teeth don't show up exactly when yours did. By the time your baby is three he will have a mouthful—20 teeth in all—for you to take care of and teach him to do the same.

• When's the best age for a first visit to the dentist?

  As early as the appearance of those first teeth and no later than that big First Birthday. To make sure little ones are calm and comfortable, we usually ask you to sit in the dental chair and hold your baby.

• When do taste buds develop?

  Researchers now believe that taste buds are present and functioning by the time an unborn baby is 4 months old. It is also possible that early exposure to smells a baby associates with her mother during close skin contact may influence the infant's ability to taste. Amazingly, breast milk tastes different to a baby with each feeding.

• Does juice hurt my baby's teeth?

  The danger to a child's teeth—and adults too—is exposure to sugary liquids for a long time. That's true of fruit juice, and sweetened liquid, as well as milk and formula. Even breast milk.

  The solution is to avoid using the bottle as a pacifier. If a bottle is necessary for nap or bedtime, plain water is best. Pacifiers dipped in sugar or honey pose the same risk. (In fact, giving honey to children under a year is strongly discouraged due to risk of infant botulism. After a year, the baby's intestines are mature enough that the botulism-causing bacteria can't grow.)

• How can I prevent decay caused by nursing?

  Avoid nursing your baby to sleep or putting anything other than water in a bedtime bottle.

• How long is it OK to use a pacifier?

  Many children outgrow their pacifier over time. If a pacifier or thumbsucking is still a habit when your child's first permanent teeth appear, a mouth appliance may be recommended as a way to discourage the sucking and protect natural alignment.

• When can I begin flossing my child's teeth?

  As soon as your baby has teeth side-by-side, it's time! Be gentle, of course. And make it fun. Making this a habit at an early age is a gift of dental health that will last a lifetime.

• Do you recommend sealants?

  If your child is prone to cavities in his back teeth (and most children are), sealants can provide protection for many years. The process is simple. A plastic material is used to coat crevasses on the chewing surfaces of a tooth. This prevents food particles from getting caught in a common place for cavities to begin. Application is fast and comfortable.

• What's the latest on fluoride?

  Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that strengthens tooth enamel. These days, you can benefit from fluoride in drinking water, toothpaste and mouth wash.

  If you are concerned about adequate levels of fluoride in your primary source of drinking water, we are willing to test it for you. If it is deficient, we may recommend a fluoride supplement. (If you drink commercially bottled water, check for fluoride content.)

• How early does my child need a mouthguard for sports?

  The most common answer is: whenever he or she plays any contact sport. But a mouthguard is a good idea for solo sports as well. Gymnastics, biking, diving, and skateboarding are just a few.

  Protecting your child's smile with a custom mouthguard is a simple process and can be done as part of a regular check-up.

• What do I do if my child's tooth gets knocked out?

  Impossible as this may sound, stay calm. Then find the tooth. Hold it by the crown—not the roots—and try to re-insert it in the socket. If that isn't possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and call us immediately.

• What's the best criteria for considering braces?

  Some of the most common reasons for considering braces include:

  • Dramatically crowded or crooked teeth
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Grinding or clenching teeth
  • Jaw pain or noises

  We work with several outstanding orthodontists and gladly coordinate with them so you get the best information and outcome for your child. You can expect them to explain how your child might benefit from braces as well as optimal timing. Many parents assume that braces are best after child's permanent teeth are in place. In fact, some conditions are actually easier to treat at a younger age.

• What is meth-mouth?

  As availability of Methamphetamine continues threaten our children, the more you know about this highly addictive drug, the better.

  Actually, every drug-whether prescribed by a doctor or not-changes the body in specific ways. Those taken for a "high" are biological stimulants with predictable effects-among them are increased body temperature and surging energy, both of which result in dry mouth, fierce thirst, and eventually sugar cravings to replenish energy.

  Repeated use of drugs like meth put dental health at risk right along with the rest of the body. For example:

  • Hyperactivity prompts intense periods of teeth grinding. Eventually, hairline cracks begin to form.
  • Dry mouth results from inadequate saliva to keep decay-causing bacteria under control. It's only a matter of time before cavities show up.
  • Thirst and the need to re-fuel make soda like Mountain Dew a quick solution. In a dry mouth, however, the high sugar content and acid are disastrous for teeth and gums.

  What most people don't know is how quickly drug-use can damage teeth and gums. Meth seems to be the most vicious. If you haven't yet heard of meth-mouth (photo, opens in a pop-up window), here are the facts:

  • Within only months, tooth color can change to grayish brown. Permanently.
  • Teeth begin to twist in the gums and begin to fall out.
  • Tooth enamel changes to resemble ripe fruit.

  If you have teenagers encourage them to check out our Teen Health page where similar information is covered, right down to that nasty meth-mouth photo.

  If you are interested in more information, one of the best sites is MAPP-SD, Meth Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota.