Well Check-Ups
   
   
  Concern and Care
  Our Mission: Let kids grow up physically and mentally healthy and successful

Contributors Yingshan Shi, MD
The page is in construction
The page started on 01/02/2009, Updated on 01/03/2009
     

 

 

 

 

Dental Screen and Care

 Teeth eruption

Teeth

Nickname

Average Eruption Time of Baby Teeth

Average Eruption Time of Permanent Teeth

Central Incisors

Front teeth

6 months

6-8 years

Lateral Incisors

Teeth next to front teeth

8 months

7-8 years

Canines

Eye teeth

18 months

9-12 years

Premolars

Teeth behind eye teeth

----

10-12 years

1 st Molars

First year molars

12 months

6 years

2 nd Molars

Second year molars

24 months

12 years

3 rd Molars

Wisdom teeth

----

17-25 years

Oral health risk assessment

  • Start at 6 months of age with each well check-up
  • Evaluate parents and the child’s oral hygiene and feeding behavior
  • Assess the risk of caries and other dental problems
  • Provide guidance to prevent caries and other dental problems

Risk and prevention for caries and other dental problems

Prevent transmission of harmful bacteria from parents’ saliva to the infant’s mouth

  • Keep good oral hygiene of parents even before the baby born.
  • Do not share cups, spoons, or toothbrushes with the infant.
  • Do not taste food before giving it to the infant.
  • Don’t hold pacifier by your mouth before giving it to the infant.

Avoid poor feeding habits after the eruption of the first teeth

  • Minimize exposure to sweet foods/sugars in the infant’s mouth.
  • Limit fruit juice to not exceed 4-6 ounce per day during meal only.
  • Not allow the infant to fall asleep with a bottle that contains milk, formula, juice, or other sweetened liquid.
  • Avoid breast feeding throughout the night
  • Avoid holding milk or juice bottles or sip-cups all around

Avoid poor oral hygiene habits

  • Have mouths cleaned with a damp cloth after feedings as soon as teeth erupt and also making it part of the bath.
  • Brush teeth twice daily after breakfast and before bed when baby has 6-8 teeth.
  • Brush teeth with baby non-fluoride tooth paste or plain water before the age of 2, check with dentist first
  • Check topical and systemic fluoride intake, supplement if not enough
  • Avoid frequent and persist thumb and pacifier sucking when teeth can bite together at age 1. Age 3-4 is the time to stop sucking their thumb.
  • Floss between teeth once daily when two teeth touch each other.
  • Clean the teeth after taking the medications.
  • Visit a dentist when turn to age 2-3 years.

 

 

 

 

     
 

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