Teething pains

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry emphasizes oral care in infants

In a recent survey by The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 97 percent of parents said they didn't know their children needed to visit a pediatric dentist in the first year of life.

"Oral health is absolutely critical for overall health," says AAPD president Dr. William C. Berlocher. "Parents know the value of early visits to the pediatrician, but it's alarming to learn how few parents understand that infants need to see the pediatric dentist before their first birthday, even before baby teeth appear."

Tooth decay can begin as early as the teeth begin to emerge, typically at six months, and often progresses rapidly, according to the AAPD. Left untreated, it can destroy tiny teeth and lead to needless pain and suffering, infection, loss of function, increased health care costs and lifelong health consequences.

The AAPD says that studies show dental costs for children who have their first dental visit before age 1 are 40 percent lower in the first five years than for those who do not see a dentist prior to their first birthday.

Here's what the AAPD recommends in their "Get it Done in Year One" checklist to keep infant mouths healthy and prevent infection:

-- Clean infants' mouths and gums regularly with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. Once baby teeth appear, brush them at least twice daily with an age-appropriate sized toothbrush and a "smear" of fluoridated toothpaste.

-- Give children older than six months fluoride supplements if their drinking water does not contain enough fluoride. (Fluoride supplementation in infants has been shown to reduce tooth decay by as much as 50 percent.)

-- Wean infants from the bottle by 12 to 14 months of age. Have infants drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday.

-- Visit the pediatric dentist before children's first birthday and twice annually following the first appointment.

-- Avoid at-will breast feeding after the first baby tooth appears and other foods are introduced.