Mertes Pediatric Dentistry
Greg Mertes, D.M.D.
5655 Hudson Dr.
Hudson, OH 44236
330.655.KIDS (5437)
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 > Jump to: Children age 1 to 4 > Jump to: Middle Adolescence age 5 to 10 > Jump to: Middle Adolescence age 11 to 18 Teeth and Gum Care in Early Childhood 1-4 Years Old Oral Hygiene • For children under 2, brush the teeth with non-fluorinated toothpaste twice a day. • For children ages 2 and above, brush the teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste twice a day (after breakfast and before bed). Make sure the child spits out the toothpaste after brushing. • Floss your child’s teeth utilizing a tooth flosser once daily. • For effective plaque removal, make sure that a parent brushes the child’s teeth. Since brushing requires fine motor control, young children cannot clean their teeth without parental help. After children acquire fine motor skills (e.g., the ability to tie their shoelaces), they can clean their teeth effectively but should be supervised by a parent, usually by age 7 or 8.. • Fluoride supplements are only prescribed by assessing each child’s risk of developing tooth decay and the known level of fluoride in the child’s drinking water. F • Fluoride topically applied (example-gels) renews the high levels of fluoride in the outer layer of the tooth enamel. Topical fluoride may be especially effective for children at high risk for tooth decay because they have a history of decay, are not exposed to fluoridated water, snack frequently on foods containing sugar, or have medical problem that decreases their resistance to decay. Teething • If the child has sore gums caused by tooth eruption, give the child a clean teething ring, cool spoon, or cold wet washcloth. Other options include giving the child a chilled teething ring or administering infant or children’s Motrin as needed for pain. Nutrition • Avoid sharing utensils (e.g., spoons) or orally cleaning a pacifier or bottle nipple. This practice helps prevent transmission of bacteria that cause tooth decay from the parent, especially the mother, to the child via saliva. • Continue to encourage the child to drink from a cup. Wean the child from the bottle by age 12 to 14 months. • Do not put the child to sleep with a bottle or sippy cup or allow frequent and prolonged bottle feedings or use of sippy cups containing beverages high in sugar (e.g., fruit drinks, soda, and fruit juice), milk, or formula during the day or at night. This will prevent sugary fluids from pooling around the teeth, which can increase the child’s risk for tooth decay. • Serve age-appropriate healthy food during planned meals and snack time, and limit eating (grazing) in between. • Serve fruit, vegetables, grain products (especially whole grain), and dairy products (milk, cheese, cottage cheese, and unsweetened yogurt). • Serve foods containing sugar at mealtimes only (not between meals), and limit the amount. Frequent consumption of foods high in sugar, such as candy, cookies, cake, sweetened beverages (e.g., fruit drinks, soda) and fruit juice, increases the risk for tooth decay. In addition, frequent consumption of foods that easily adhere to the tooth surface, such as fruit-roll-ups and candy, increases the risk for tooth decay. When checking for sugar, looking beyond the sugar bowl and candy dish. A variety of foods contain one or more types of sugar, and all sugars can promote tooth decay. • Encourage children to eat fruit rather that drink fruit juice. • Serve the child juice in a cup, and limiting the child’s consumption of juice to 4 to 6 oz. per day. • If the child drinks beverages between meals, encourage child to drink water or milk rather than fruit juice or sweetened beverages. • Drink fluoridated water (via a community fluoridated water source) to prevent tooth decay; for families that prefer bottled water, drink a brand in which fluoride is added at a concentration of approximately 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L (ppm) Non-Nutritive Sucking Sucking is a natural reflex for children. Most children require some amount of additional sucking beyond the need for nourishment. This type of sucking, known as non-nutritive sucking, provides emotional benefits, enabling the child to calm himself/herself and focus attention. If parents choose to have their child suck a pacifier, health professionals can advise them to take certain safety precautions. The following precautions are recommended: • Never attach a pacifier to a ribbon or string around the child’s neck • Make sure the pacifier is of sturdy one-piece construction and the material is flexible, firm, and not brittle. • Keep the pacifier clean. • Never dip the pacifier in sweetened foods (e.g., sugar, honey, syrup) to encourage sucking. • Never orally clean a pacifier before giving it to a child. Injury Prevention • Be aware that injuries to the head, face, and mouth are common among children. • Learn how to prevent oral injuries and how to handle oral emergencies. Because of the danger of damaging the underlying permanent teeth, never attempt to reinsert an avulsed (lost) primary tooth. It is impossible to relocate the tooth accurately, and there is danger of pushing it too far into the soft alveolar bone. • Use an appropriate car safety seat in the back seat of the vehicle at all times. Children should ride rear facing until they weigh at least 20 lbs. Children who weigh at least 20 lbs should ride in a forward facing car safety seat. After a child reaches the weight or height limit of the forward-facing car seat, the child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt. • Use safety locks on cabinets. Keep all poisonous substances, medicines, cleaning agents, health and beauty aids, and paints and paint solvents locked in a safe place. • Keep pet food dishes out of reach. Do not permit the child to approach the pet while it is eating. • Keep appliances and dangling telephone, electric, blind, and drapery cords out of reach. • Lock doors and use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs, and use safety locks and safety devices on widows above the ground floor. • Supervise children on the stairs and when climbing on and off furniture. • Do not give toys small enough to be placed in the mouth. Make sure that toys do not have parts that can become detached. Keep toys with small parts or sharp edges out of reach. • Make sure that playgrounds are carefully maintained and that equipment is in good condition. All playground equipment should be surrounded by soft surface (e.g., fine, loose sand; wood chips; wood mulch) or by rubber mats manufactured for this use. • Supervise child on playground equipment. Make sure children play only on developmentally appropriate equipment. • Ensure child wears a bicycle helmet, even on a tricycle. • Provide the child’s caregivers with the dentist’s emergency phone contacts, and ensure the caregiver knows how to handle all emergencies. For after hours emergencies call 330-655-5437 and follow the prompts. >>> BACK TO TOP <<< Teeth and Gum Care in Middle Adolescence 5-10 Years Oral Hygiene • Brush teeth twice daily (after breakfast and before bed) with fluoridated toothpaste, and flossing daily. Spit out the toothpaste after brushing. • Become familiar with the normal appearance of the gums and teeth so that problems can be identified if they occur. Check your gums and teeth once a month. • Fluoride supplements are only prescribed by assessing your risk of developing tooth decay and the known level of fluoride in the child’s drinking water. • Fluoride topically applied (example-gels) renews the high levels of fluoride in the outer layer of the tooth enamel. Topical fluoride may be especially effective for children at high risk for tooth decay because they have a history of decay, are not exposed to fluoridated water, snack frequently on foods containing sugar, or have medical problem that decreases their resistance to decay. Preventive Measures • Dental sealants are highly recommended. The sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of the teeth and are utilized to prevent tooth decay by creating a physical barrier against dental plaque, shortly after the teeth erupt. • It is now necessary to implement a preventative oral health regimen, including an evaluation of the bite (orthodontics) and third molar development. Nutrition • Eat healthy food during planned meals and snacks, and limiting eating (grazing) in between. • Eat fruit, vegetables, grain products (especially whole grain), and dairy products (milk, cheese, cottage cheese, and unsweetened yogurt). • Eat foods containing sugar at mealtimes only (not between meals), and limit the amount. Frequent consumption of foods high in sugar, such as candy, cookies, cake, sweetened beverages (e.g., fruit drinks, soda) and fruit juice, increases the risk for tooth decay. In addition, frequent consumption of foods that easily adhere to the tooth surface, such as fruit-roll-ups and candy, increases the risk for tooth decay. When checking for sugar, look beyond the sugar bowl and candy dish. A variety of foods contain one or more types of sugar, and all sugars can promote tooth decay. • Eat fruit rather that drink fruit juice. • If the school has vending machines, choose water or milk rather than fruit juice or sweetened beverages. • Drink fluoridated water (via a community fluoridated water source) to prevent tooth decay; for families that prefer bottled water, drink a brand in which fluoride is added at a concentration of approximately 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L (ppm). Injury Prevention Learning how to prevent oral injuries and handle oral emergencies, especially the loss or fracture of a tooth. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, the parent or other adult should (1) find the avulsed (lost) tooth, (2) hold it by the crown (top part) only, not the root, (3) rinse it under cold water gently if the root is dirty but do not scrub, (4) reinsert it into the socket quickly, making sure that the front of the tooth is facing you, and (5) immediately call the office at 330-655-5437. If it is not possible to replace the tooth, place the tooth in a container of cold milk. • If a tooth is fractured or chipped, (1) rinse your mouth with water; (2) apply cold compresses to the cheek to reduce swelling and (3) immediately call the office at 330-655-5437. • Wear a safety belt while riding or driving in a vehicle. Insist that passengers also wear safety belts. • Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, or motorcycle. Adolescents under age 16 should not ride an all-terrain vehicle or motorcycle. • Wear protective gear (mouth guards) when participating in physical activities or sports that could potentially result in injuries to the mouth, such as biking, skateboarding, in-line skating, or playing baseball, soccer, or lacrosse. • Avoid oral piercing; this can damage teeth and gums. For after hours emergencies call 330-655-5437 and follow the prompts. >>> BACK TO TOP <<< Teeth and Gum Care in Middle Adolescence 11-18 Years Oral Hygiene • Brush teeth twice daily (after breakfast and before bed) with fluoridated toothpaste, and flossing daily. Spit out the toothpaste after brushing. • Become familiar with the normal appearance of your gums and teeth so that problems can be identified if they occur. Check your gums and teeth once a month. • Fluoride topically applied (example-gels) renews the high levels of fluoride in the outer layer of the tooth enamel. Topical fluoride may be especially effective for children at high risk for tooth decay because they have a history of decay, are not exposed to fluoridated water, snack frequently on foods containing sugar, or have medical problem that decreases their resistance to decay. Preventive Measures • Dental sealants are highly recommended. The sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of the teeth and are utilized to prevent tooth decay by creating a physical barrier against dental plaque, shortly after the teeth erupt. • It is now necessary to implement a preventative oral health regimen, including an evaluation of the bite and third molar development. Nutrition • Eat healthy food during planned meals and snacks, and limiting eating (grazing) in between. • Eat fruit, vegetables, grain products (especially whole grain), and dairy products (milk, cheese, cottage cheese, and unsweetened yogurt). • Eat foods containing sugar at mealtimes only (not between meals), and limit the amount. Frequent consumption of foods high in sugar, such as candy, cookies, cake, sweetened beverages (e.g., fruit drinks, soda) and fruit juice, increases the risk for tooth decay. In addition, frequent consumption of foods that easily adhere to the tooth surface, such as fruit-roll-ups and candy, increases the risk for tooth decay. When checking for sugar, look beyond the sugar bowl and candy dish. A variety of foods contain one or more types of sugar, and all sugars can promote tooth decay. • Eat fruit rather that drink fruit juice. • If the school has vending machines, choose water or milk rather than fruit juice or sweetened beverages. • Drink fluoridated water (via a community fluoridated water source) to prevent tooth decay; for families that prefer bottled water, drink a brand in which fluoride is added at a concentration of approximately 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L (ppm). Injury Prevention Learning how to prevent oral injuries and handle oral emergencies, especially the loss or fracture of a tooth. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, the parent or other adult should (1) find the avulsed (lost) tooth, (2) hold it by the crown (top part) only, not the root, (3) rinse it under cold water gently if the root is dirty but do not scrub, (4) reinsert it into the socket quickly, making sure that the front of the tooth is facing you, and (5) immediately call the office at 330-655-5437. If it is not possible to replace the tooth, place the tooth in a container of cold milk. • If a tooth is fractured or chipped, (1) rinse your mouth with water; (2) apply cold compresses to the cheek to reduce swelling and (3) immediately call the office at 330-655-5437. • Wear a safety belt while riding or driving in a vehicle. Insist that passengers also wear safety belts. • Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, or motorcycle. Adolescents under age 16 should not ride an all-terrain vehicle or motorcycle. • Wear protective gear (mouth guards) when participating in physical activities or sports that could potentially result in injuries to the mouth, such as biking, skateboarding, in-line skating, or playing baseball, soccer, or lacrosse. • Avoid oral piercing; this can damage teeth and gums. Substance Use • Do not smoke, use spit tobacco, or drink alcohol. • Do not use drugs or even try them. For after hours emergencies call 330-655-5437 and follow the prompts. >>> BACK TO TOP <<< |
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