Dental Care For Babies Should Begin Before First
Tooth Arrives Says Michigan Dentist Timothy Kosinski
BINGHAM FARMS, Michigan -- Because the Smile Creator,
Dr. Timothy Kosinski, DDS, believes that "Smiles Are For All Generations" he
especially places stress on dental care for babies.
While pediatricians do a wonderful job helping parents raise
healthy babies, many parents are not informed about oral care for a child, even
before that first tooth arrives.
Dental care for children is so important that it should begin
before babies cut their first tooth. After each feeding, the baby's mouth
should be cleaned with a clean washcloth or a gauze pad, slightly moistened
with water to wipe away visible plaque.
After the first teeth break through, use a soft toothbrush and
water to remove plaque around the neck of the teeth. Do not use toothpaste
until a dentist recommends the amount and type to use.
Allowing a baby to sleep with a bottle filled with sugared
liquids, including milk and formula, can cause severe tooth decay. For bottle
use between meals, the bottle should be filled only with water.
Dr. Kosinski recommends that the first visit to the dentist be
scheduled as soon as the first tooth breaks through. "We know much more about
caring for an infant's oral needs and want to share that information with
parents as soon as possible," he stresses.
Within six months to a year after the first tooth breaks
through, sealants can be placed on the child's teeth during regular dental
checkups or cleanings to seal out tooth decay.
To protect tooth enamel from acids, it is important for a child
to receive an adequate amount of fluoride through drinking water and a fluoride
toothpaste.
Every time a child or adult eats, acid attacks the tooth enamel
for at least 20 minutes. A daylong acid attack is produced whenever a child
snacks on food high in sugar. The Smile Creator can provide delicious snack and
meal suggestions to keep a child's teeth in good health.
While sucking is natural for a baby, prolonged sucking on a
thumb, pacifier or other object can cause dental problems including a change in
the shape of the mouth and alignment of teeth. For that reason, an infant
should stop thumb sucking between the ages of 2-4. Finger and thumb sucking
habits are harder to break than pacifier habits.
While primary teeth are eventually lost, the early or premature
loss of these teeth can cause serious dental problems later in life. Primary
teeth are needed to chew food properly, to learn to speak clearly, and to
reserve space in the growing jaw so permanent teeth can come through.
When a tooth is knocked out the child should be taken to the
dentist within the hour. Do not attempt to scrub or clean the tooth in any way
but place it in milk or a saline solution. "The faster you get care the better
the chances are of saving the tooth," stresses Dr. Kosinski. "Permanent teeth
can be re-implanted, but not baby teeth. If you are not sure what kind of tooth
has been knocked out, check with your dentist."
Actually dental care for children begins during pregnancy. Dr.
Kosinski points out that a pregnant mother's diet, oral hygiene habits and
hormone levels all can protect the dental health of the baby.
For more information about Dr. Kosinski or SmileCreator go to
www.smilecreator.net, call 248-646-8651 or send an email query to
allquestions@smilecreator.net. SmileCreator is located at 31000
Telegraph Rd., Suite 170, Bingham Farms, MI 48025
About Dr. Timothy Kosinski: He has practiced general and
implant dentistry for 20 years. A graduate of University of Detroit Dental
School, he completed comprehensive implant training at Harvard. He is a
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, The
International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American Society of
Osseointegration. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry
and most recently received his Mastership in the AGD in Anaheim this year. Dr.
Kosinski has been inducted into the American and International Colleges of
Dentists and the Academy of Dentistry International. Dr. Kosinski was selected
the Best Dentist in America by his peers in 2004-2005.
Dental Care For Babies Should Begin Before First Tooth Arrives
Says Michigan Dentist Timothy Kosinski
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