Baby Teeth Matter

Third Ward Dental has assembled the latest news affecting your baby's dental health here for your convenience.  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

•  Start performing oral hygiene procedures daily on day one!
  
  Start by using gauze or a washcloth to wipe the gum tissue of your newborn every day. As the baby teeth erupt, start using a child-size toothbrush, no toothpaste yet. We want the baby to know that EVERY DAY, oral hygiene procedures will occur. As of February 2014, it is recommended that parents brush their children's teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth comes in. This new guidance expands the use of fluoride toothpaste for young children.
  To help prevent children’s tooth decay, the CSA recommends that caregivers use a smear of fluoride toothpaste (or an amount about the size of a grain of rice) for children younger than 3 years old and a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste for children 3 to 6 years old.
  Children do not have the hand skills to effectively remove plaque until somewhere around age 6, so it remains the parents' job to make sure all of the teeth get brushed thoroughly, until the child can write their name in cursive or tie their shoe laces.
  
  
  

  •  For children younger than 3 years, caregivers should begin brushing children’s teeth as soon as they begin to come into the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice (Figure). Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children’s brushing to ensure that they use the appropriate amount of toothpaste.

  •  For children 3 to 6 years of age, caregivers should dispense no more than a pea-sized amount (Figure) of fluoride toothpaste. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children’s brushing to minimize swallowing of toothpaste.

  •  It is especially critical that dentists provide counseling to caregivers that involves the use of oral description, visual aids and actual demonstration to help ensure that the appropriate amount of toothpaste is used.
    

• Never put your baby to sleep with a bottle, unless it is filled ONLY with water.
  Be sure to give only breast milk, formula or water in the bottle.
  Never put juice, soda, or other sweet drinks in the baby bottle.
  If you use a pacifier, do not dip it in anything sweet like sugar or honey.

• Baby's first visit should be at age 1, or 6 months after the first tooth erupts, whichever is earlier.
  This visit is an opportunity to make sure the baby teeth are healthy; to check on how the parents are doing with oral hygiene procedures; to catch any problems early, when they are easy to fix; and to give the baby a dental home. You hold your baby the whole time!
  We also look at baby's airway and tongue function, which can have serious effects on growth and development.

• Breastfeeding is the first choice for feeding your baby.

• If you need to use formula for your baby, use non-fluoridated water to mix the formula until your baby is 6 months old.
  Most bottled water does not contain fluoride. If your baby is getting all of his or her nutrition from formula, they might get too much fluoride because their entire diet is liquid. Too much fluoride can cause the teeth to have mottled enamel, which is usually a slight discoloration.
  More information

• After 6 months, the best water for your baby is fluoridated water. Milwaukee tap water is optimally fluoridated.
  Most bottled water does not contain fluoride. Using Milwaukee tap water is better for your baby's teeth and costs much less than bottled water. Lake Michigan water has 0.3 ppm naturally, Milwaukee boosts the fluoride content to 0.7 ppm, as recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services.

• Tooth Healthy Snacks for Children

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• More Information:

• Something to Smile About
  From the Wisconsin Department of Public Health. The pictures on this page are from this site.

• Community Water Fluoridation
  From the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions

• Fluoridation Facts
  From the American Dental Association. For most cities, every $1 invested in water fluoridation saves $38 in dental treatment costs.
  Dr. Moser testified at the Milwaukee Common Council meeting on 5/31/2012, when Alderman Bohl wanted to remove fluoride from Milwaukee's water.
  Video  Dr. Moser starts at 356:50. This was a 7 hour meeting!

• Milwaukee Water Information
  From the Milwaukee Water Works. FAQs - Water Quality and Public Health

• Well Water Testing
  From the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. Homeowner Package ($309) or Fluoride test ($26) will give you the information about the amount of Fluoride in your water.

• Baby Teeth Matter
   "Baby Teeth Matter" promotes the promotes the importance of good oral health during a child’s early years. This link takes you to the Wisconsin Dental Association web site.