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Dental Care at Home
Pacifiers
Is a pacifier safer for my child's teeth than thumb sucking?
Both habits will often have an effect on the position of the front teeth. Pacifiers can actually have a greater effect than the thumb because it is a pliable object that will deform upon pressure and try to return to its natural shape. As a result, it's actually exerting an active force against the teeth so that distortion of the normal tooth position will often be greater than with a thumb habit. While there are some controversies surrounding the advisability of taking a pacifier away from a child, from a purely dental standpoint, it is clearly the appropriate thing to do.
Negotiating with the child is not an effective way to bring the habit to a close. The most successful way to end the habit is by a unilateral parental decision not to make the pacifier available. This might take the form of simply "making it disappear" or informing (not discussing with) the child that the pacifier is going away.
When should I start cleaning my infant's teeth?
As soon as the first tooth erupts into the mouth! When infants are young, you may find that a damp washcloth, a Q-Tip and a strip of gauze are the easiest tools for tooth-cleaning. A soft-bristled infant toothbrush will also work well as your child gets older and is more tolerant of the procedure.
My child has a toothache. What can I do before I get to the dentist?
Young children who complain of a toothache in a baby tooth often have a foreign object (such as a particle of food) lodged between the teeth. Even abscessed teeth are rarely cause for pain in baby teeth. The first thing to do is to have the child identify the exact location of the pain by having her touch the tooth that is hurting with a single finger. This will focus your attention on the offending area. Next, see if flossing between the teeth in the area will dislodge any debris. Often this will provide immediate relief. If not, basic pain medications, such as Tylenol, ibuprofen or other common children's pain relievers will be helpful. Ultimately, these situations are best evaluated and treated by your dentist.